Discursive Construction of National Identity in Chinese University English Textbooks: An Analysis of the Preface in New Horizon College English Textbook, Third Edition

In the context of globalization, the construction of national identity through educational discourse has become a crucial topic in language education. This study investigates how the preface of the New Horizon College English (Third Edition) constructs China’s national identity through discursive practices. Drawing on Teun A. van Dijk’s theory of social cognition and Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), the research explores how discourse in English textbooks functions as a medium for shaping collective cognition, values, and national consciousness. The analysis reveals that the preface aligns English education with national development strategies by emphasizing themes such as serving the country’s modernization goals, cultivating international talents, integrating Chinese cultural and socialist core values, and promoting innovation and informatization in education. Through specific linguistic choices, symbolic references, and ideological narratives, the preface constructs an image of Chinese learners as globally competent yet culturally grounded citizens. The findings demonstrate that English textbooks in China serve not merely as instruments for language acquisition but also as ideological tools for national identity formation and cultural dissemination. This study contributes to the understanding of how educational discourse participates in the broader sociocultural process of identity construction, offering insights for future textbook design and educational policy.