Finally, there is a textbook in Sweden that does not contradict the Syllabus. NoK has published a book called Explore. WebEnglish.se recommends it on three accounts:
There are no translations
The vocabulary list at the back of the book is only from English to Swedish, and gives equivalents of the words in each chapter in the context where they are. This will help the student to understand that the word may have multiple other meanings in other contexts. The lack of a Swedish – English glossary saves the student from the common misconclusion that the given Swedish word could directly be translated into an English equivalent at all times.
Needless to say, there are no translation exercises, either.
Mediation that includes the ability to translate is eliminated from the Syllabus in order to be able to teach entirely in the target language. (Commentary Material to English, Skolverket, 2017, p 10. My translation.)
Grammar in the context when needed
There is no explicit grammar part in the book, where every aspect would be taught one by one in case they are needed. Instead, there are activities in the teacher’s material that the teacher may choose to use, if a grammatical aspect in the text context seems difficult for the students.
Linguistic elements like grammatical structures and spelling should be presented only when there is a functional purpose, in order to clarify and enrich the communication. (Commentary Material to English, Skolverket 2017, p15. My translation.)
Leeway for Student Choice and Voice
Explore is just one book for three school years (4-6 in Sweden), divided into themes. Mostly, the book could be studied in any order one wishes. Anybody who is slightly familiar with WebEnglish.se would know that themes are my way to go. When we work with themes, there is plenty of room to let the students choose what, when and how. There will be no pressure for the teacher to ‘get through the book’. WebEnglish.se has ample materials to fill up the curriculum with in-depth themes, annual celebrations, current affairs and all kinds of reading, while Explore can give a safe starting point to explore the English Speaking World.
Teachers should:
• take as their starting point that the pupils are able and willing to take personal responsibility for their learning and work in school,
• be responsible for ensuring that all pupils can exercise real influence over working methods, forms and contents of education (CURRICULUM FOR THE COMPULSORY SCHOOL, PRESCHOOL CLASS AND THE LEISURE-TIME CENTRE 2011, p 14)
If you want to read more, I have written 3 articles explaining some of these points earlier:
Grammar Matters
Grammar Matters 2
Why Aren’t There Any Good Textbooks?
P.S. I have no affiliation with NoK when writing this article.