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IDENTIFIERS *Iran; National Identity This paper asserts that lack of cultural knowledge related to English among Iranian students who pursue advanced education abroad affects their English language proficiency. It examines whether the disconnection between the English language and the culture of that language embodied in Iranian English textbooks hinders students ' knowledge and use of the English language. It investigates why, after 7 years of studying English in public schools, students still feel the need to attend private language classes to increase their English language skills for academic and/or job related purposes domestically or abroad. Data come from content analysis of 21 lessons within 8th and 9th grade public school textbooks and 24 lessons from the same level textbooks in a private language school. Results indicate that the English textbooks used in Iranian public and private schools are very well organized for learning the structure of the language, though they do not include enough conversational exercises and activities. Textbooks are written with great respect for the Iranian national character, which is the Islamic tradition. The paper concludes that the objectives of learning English cannot be reached without providing ESL materials to meet the criteria of teaching a second and/or foreign language. (Contains 21 references.) (SM) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document