This study aims to investigate the practicality and usability of the elementary school English
textbook based on the 7th national curriculum. A self-report questionnaire was completed by
seventy-two elementary English teachers who participated in intensive in-service teacher
training programs commissioned by the Office of Education in Kyonggi Province.
The results indicated that the overall satisfaction level of the current English textbook was
acceptable but relatively low compared to that of the teachers\' book or accompanying CD-ROM
title. The homeroom teachers, probably due to their greater dependency on the given textbook
and materials, tended to be less satisfied with the contents and organization of the current
textbook than the specialist teachers. The evaluation of the practicality of the textbook and the
teacher\'s guide was lower than that of the CD-ROM title, the use of which was highest in
listening, speaking and reading activities. With regard to writing activities, on the other hand,
the teachers chose internet-based materials as the most practical. While the homeroom teachers
were more dependent on the CD-ROM title or the given materials, the specialist teachers
utilized a wider range of other resources including the materials available on the internet or
developed by the teachers themselves.
In conclusion, the English textbook should be developed in a way to help support both
teachers and students by incorporating more diverse activities and level-specific materials.
Furthermore, teachers should be knowledgeable to the nature and role of materials in language
teaching and be able to adopt and adapt the given textbook and relevant materials to meet the
needs of the students in their specific teaching context.