AN EVALUATION OF ENGLISH TEXTBOOK “WHEN ENGLISH RINGS A BELL” FOR SMP/MTS GRADE VIII

ABSTRACT ABSTRACT: The aim of this study is to measure and judge if the textbook “When English Rings A Bell” for SMP/MTs Grade VIII is relevant with the criteria of good textbook in terms of language skills, language components, and topics. The method of evaluation in this study is documentary study. The evaluator uses evaluation form as the main instrument. The evaluation form is modified from Cunningsworth’s checklist (1995).The evaluator also uses the syllabus of eight grade of junior high school in the process of analysing the textbook, so that the result of analysing is not subjective and more reliable. There are a number of points raised in the findings. First, in terms of language skills, the textbook has covered all four language skills. All the material is suitable with students’ level according to the syllabus. Second, in terms of language components, the textbook has covered the three main aspects of language content such as grammar items, vocabulary items, and phonological items in every chapter. Furthermore, the aspect of language content is suitable with students’ level according to the syllabus. Third, in term of topics, the textbook provided different topic in every chapter. The topics are interesting and suitable with students’ level based on the basic competence from the syllabus.Based on the findings, the writer concluded that the textbook “When English Rings A Bell” for SMP/MTs Grade VIII generally has fulfilled the criteria of good EFL textboo