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AI Summary of Peer-Reviewed Research

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Publishing process signals: STRONG — reflects the venue and review process. — venue and review process.

Environmental discourse declines in Pakistani EFL textbooks

Two young students wearing red polo shirts with striped sleeves and eyeglasses sit at a wooden desk in a library or classroom setting, looking down at an open textbook together while other students work in the blurred background.
Research area:Environmental ScienceDiscourse Analysis in Language StudiesEnvironmental Education and Sustainability

What the study found

The study found a gradual decrease in environmental discourse from primary to secondary level English as a foreign language (EFL) textbooks in Punjab, Pakistan. The textbooks mainly present nature through sensory and experiential descriptions.

Why the authors say this matters

The authors say textbooks and teachers are important for building students' ecological awareness, which they describe as necessary for addressing the climate crisis. They also suggest that including environmental challenges and matching content to students' learning levels can help foster ecological awareness and environmental preservation.

What the researchers tested

The researchers analyzed 10 EFL textbooks, from primary to secondary level, published by the Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board. They used Stibbe's ecolinguistics model and Kress and van Leeuwen's social semiotics to examine linguistic patterns and visuals about nature, human-environment interactions, and global environmental issues.

What worked and what didn't

The findings indicate that beneficial discourse in the textbooks promotes environmentally friendly activities in both language and visuals. At the same time, environmental discourse becomes less represented at higher grade levels, and the textbook content mainly focuses on sensory and experiential aspects of nature.

What to keep in mind

The abstract does not describe detailed limitations. The summary is based only on the abstract, so no conclusions beyond the reported patterns can be stated.

Key points

  • Environmental discourse decreased from primary to secondary EFL textbooks.
  • The textbooks mainly described nature in sensory and experiential terms.
  • Beneficial discourse promoted environmentally friendly activities in language and visuals.
  • The researchers analyzed 10 Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board EFL textbooks.
  • The study used ecolinguistics and social semiotics to examine text and images.

Disclosure

Research title:
Environmental discourse declines in Pakistani EFL textbooks
Authors:
Musarat Yasmin, Shiza Asif, Farhat Naseem, Tahira Jabeen
Institutions:
University of Gujrat, University of Sargodha, Al-Khair University
Publication date:
2026-03-07
DOI:
10.1016/j.sftr.2026.101761
OpenAlex record:
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AI provenance: This post was generated by OpenAI. The original authors did not write or review this post.

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