The textbook is one of the most commonly used teaching aids in lessons, which many teachers rely on and use to plan the entire course of English lessons. All textbooks are approved by the Ministry of Education and align with the English curriculum. Since the central figure of the lesson is the student, it is important to consider their perspectives on English textbooks. There are many studies that inquire about teachers’ opinions regarding the textbooks they use, but students’ opinions are less researched. This research is focused on the students’ perspective on the textbooks they used in English lessons during the 2020/2021 school year. The questionnaire showed how students perceive the English textbook in the 5th grade of primary school. The questionnaire focused on the visual aspect of the textbook, topics and vocabulary, the frequency of textbook use in lessons, types of work, and communicative activities developed by the specific textbook. 220 sixth-grade students from various primary schools took part in the survey; they used one of the three most commonly used textbooks in Slovenia (My Sails 2, Happy Street 2, and Young Explorers 2). The research shows that in most cases, there are no significant statistical differences between the textbooks for English lessons in the 5th grade of primary school. In the eyes of the students, each textbook has its advantages and disadvantages. Although there are no significant statistical differences between the textbooks in most cases, the research provides an in-depth insight into students’ perspectives on the textbook, what they like, and what they want less/more of. They believe that the use of the textbook in lessons is just right, and the vocabulary and its amount are appropriate. The textbooks are visually appealing and clear. The problem arises with the topics included in the textbooks. Namely, there are some topics in the textbook that are very close to their hearts, while others do not interest them at all. The research allows us to see the textbooks through the eyes of the students, which is crucial given that textbooks are primarily intended for students.
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