A Study on the Application of the Output-Oriented Approach in the Compilation of English Textbooks for Higher Vocational Education: A Case Study of “New Standard Vocational English”

Abstract

With the rapid development of vocational education in China, the development of English textbooks for higher vocational education has become a key area of academic research. This study examines the application of the Production-Oriented Approach (POA) in vocational English textbook development, using New Standard Vocational English as a case study. Guided by the English Curriculum Standards for Higher Vocational Education (2021 Edition) (hereafter referred to as the New Curriculum Standards), this research adopts POA principles to address the dual objectives of moral cultivation and technical skill development. It analyzes the theoretical foundations and practical pathways for textbook development, detailing the internal logic of unit structure design: Section I focuses on cultivating students' professional ethics and values to prepare them for unit tasks, while Section II emphasizes workplace competencies by providing content, language, and discourse structures directly serving productive tasks. Key aspects such as material selection are explored, and the textbook's effectiveness is validated through pilot teaching and feedback. The findings demonstrate that POA's " Learning-Using Integration " aligns closely with vocational English objectives, effectively resolving the "separation of learning and use" in vocational English teaching and offering innovative insights for textbook development.