In the following essay, a study on three textbooks used for educating pupils in Swedish secondary schools in the subject of English is presented. One aim of the study was to investigate how the selection of texts, both fiction and non-fiction, used for reading and listening comprehension purposes and their respective author representations in three Swedish EFL-textbooks could be considered to represent a broad perspective of the English-speaking world. The categories used to find evidence are based on Kachru’s model of Three Circles of English. Furthermore, an additional aim was to uncover evidence of invisibility- and imbalance and selectivity-biases within each textbook’s content. These biases are originally part of the Sadker et al. framework Seven Forms of Bias.

The study results indicate that even though all textbooks provide some examples of the English-language from a global perspective, none manage to present a fully balanced and indiscriminate picture of such. Furthermore, the findings suggest that none of the textbooks succeed in providing learners with an evenly distributed array of texts transpiring in, and authors originating from, countries belonging to Kachru’s inner-, as -and- and expanding circle. Instead, it was found that a majority of texts transpire in, and authors originate from, countries within the inner-circle, which further seem to reinforce the perception of a standard English springing from what is by Kachru referred to as the inner, norm-providing circle. Therefore, based on the findings in this study, it is suggested that further research be carried out. In particular, a more substantial number of textbooks should be analysed in order to ensure that the content of EFL-textbooks used in the Swedish educational system agrees with the standards of the core curriculum for English 5.