100 Years of Research on English Language Learning/Teaching Materials: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

The importance of materials in learning and teaching has prompted a substantial number of studies on English language learning/teaching materials (ELLTM). To date, the field seems largely unstudied when it comes to identifying the focus, themes, and challenges. Hence the present study endeavored to systematically review, analyze, and synthesize the scope and the coverage of the research articles (RAs) on the ELLTM. To this end, a comprehensive literature search was conducted in the top100 journals with the highest metrics in Scimago Journal Rank (SJR) categorized under “Language and Linguistic”. The review identifies 661 studies based on the strings ‘material(s)’, ‘textbook’, ‘coursebook’, and ‘courseware’, of which 238 met the inclusion criteria. Analyses of content and statistical data indicated that the research direction has focused on three main themes: evaluation, production, and selection/adoption. The study concludes with recommendations and suggestions for future research into ELLTM.