حسین بزرگیان

The current study intended to examine Iranian English ‘Prospect’ textbooks through Cultural Linguistics employing the analytical tools of cultural conceptualizations and Meta-cultural competence model. It aims to find whether and how the local cultural conceptualizations are reflected on the textbooks, and if the tasks address Meta-cultural competence. To answer the research questions, the conversation text and visual of lesson 3 of ‘Prospect’ 3, and all the 197 tasks provided for conversation sections in Teacher's Guides were scrutinized. The findings show that lesson 3 captures the Iranian cultural conceptualizations of Nowruz as a) rebirth/renewal of nature, human being, life and relationships, b) an event for wishing: warding off bad luck, and attaining good luck, c) a joyful event, and d) an event for reunion and social gathering. In addition to that, none of the questions provided for conversation sections address Meta-cultural competence. The study proves that the embeddedness of Nowruz cultural conceptualizations in language and discourse reveals Persian variety of English including its cultural conceptualizations reflected on Iranian English ‘Prospect’ textbooks. Some recommendations are suggested for textbook writers, curriculum developers, and researchers in the field.