The Use of Literature in Teaching English as a Foreign Language
The Use of Literature in Teaching English as a Foreign Language
By:
Amr Alhemiary
Abstract
This research aims at emphasizing the use of literature as a popular technique for teaching both basic language skills (i.e. reading, writing, speaking and listening)and language areas(i.e. vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation) in our times. Reasons for using literary text in a foreign language classroom, suitable situations for teaching literature and main criteria for selecting suitable literary texts in foreign language classes are stressed so as to be familiar with the underlying reasons, situations and criteria for language teachers' using and selecting a literary text. Furthermore, literature and the teaching of language skill, the use of different genres(i.e. poetry, sort stories, drama and novel) to language teaching and some problems encountered by language teachers within the area of teaching English through literature( i.e. lack of preparation in the area of literature teaching in TSL/TEFL, programs, absence of clear-cut objectives, defining the role of literature in ESL/EFL, language teacher's not having the background and training in literature, lack of pedagogically-designed appropriate materials that can be used by language teachers in a classroom context) are taken into account.
1. Introduction
In recent years, the role of literature as a basic component and source of authentic texts of the language curriculum rather than an ultimate aim of English instruction has been gaining a momentum. Among language educators, there has been a hot debate as how, when, where and why literature should be incorporated in ESL / EFL curriculum. Vigorous discussions of how literature and ESL / EFL instruction can work together and interact for the benefit of students and teachers has led to the flourishment of interesting ideas, learning, and as an interesting and worthy concern ( Sage 1987:1). In this paper, why a language teacher should use literary texts in the
By:
Amr Alhemiary
Abstract
This research aims at emphasizing the use of literature as a popular technique for teaching both basic language skills (i.e. reading, writing, speaking and listening)and language areas(i.e. vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation) in our times. Reasons for using literary text in a foreign language classroom, suitable situations for teaching literature and main criteria for selecting suitable literary texts in foreign language classes are stressed so as to be familiar with the underlying reasons, situations and criteria for language teachers' using and selecting a literary text. Furthermore, literature and the teaching of language skill, the use of different genres(i.e. poetry, sort stories, drama and novel) to language teaching and some problems encountered by language teachers within the area of teaching English through literature( i.e. lack of preparation in the area of literature teaching in TSL/TEFL, programs, absence of clear-cut objectives, defining the role of literature in ESL/EFL, language teacher's not having the background and training in literature, lack of pedagogically-designed appropriate materials that can be used by language teachers in a classroom context) are taken into account.
1. Introduction
In recent years, the role of literature as a basic component and source of authentic texts of the language curriculum rather than an ultimate aim of English instruction has been gaining a momentum. Among language educators, there has been a hot debate as how, when, where and why literature should be incorporated in ESL / EFL curriculum. Vigorous discussions of how literature and ESL / EFL instruction can work together and interact for the benefit of students and teachers has led to the flourishment of interesting ideas, learning, and as an interesting and worthy concern ( Sage 1987:1). In this paper, why a language teacher should use literary texts in the
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