Literature in Language Teaching Reinforces Skills and Complements Language Teaching (original) (raw)

LITERATURE AS A USEFUL TOOL IN LANGUAGE TEACHING

For many years, literature has been an important part of the culture of a country which, in a way, has served as an artistic instrument where readers can delight themselves with enriching stories, plays, novels, poems, etc. On the other hand, literature is a key piece in language teaching. However, many questions have arisen regarding why literature is taught, and why it is necessary for students to read and analyze works as part of the curriculum. To answer this, it is necessary to review more in-depth about the benefits and importance of literature, which goes beyond reading and learning a Shakespearean drama or sonnet, and to just simply discuss that Romeo and Juliet died due to forbidden affairs. To become aware of literature relevance, we must understand that when an author expresses his or her feelings, experiences, point of view, etc. he or she is broadening our possibility of experiencing through his or her perspective. So in the end it is not just understanding what the work is about, but also understanding what the author wants to convey by forging a connection with him or her and with the context. Hence, this paper aims to deeply analyze the benefits, problems, and possible solutions that have been raised by several authors regarding this matter.

Why should literature be used in the language classroom

Communicative methodologies that emerged in the 1970s stress the importance of using authentic materials and activities in th e classroom in order to help students achieve communicative competence that will enable them to use the language for communicative purposes in the real world. However, the materials and classroom activities focus on the referential function of the language and do not offer opportunities for imaginative involvement. Therefore, students do not acquire the ability to understand the creative uses of the language or to function in situations in which they have to make interpretations and evaluations, and give their personal response and reaction. This paper argues that inclusion of literature in language teaching materials will provide students with the opportunities to experience and use the language more creatively and to develop grea ter awareness of the language they are learning.

Literature and Language Learning

There are many reasons for reading a good book. There can be the curiosity for human drama, excitement about a good plot or thirst for gripping episodes. Others marvel at the deep thoughts and philosophies presented in good literature. All wonderfully worded by a skilful author who plays around with words and imagery. Not many people will read a good book because it enables them to learn a language. Not often are readers aware of the virtuous potential of reading for pleasure on the arduous task of language learning. But there are enormous benefits for schools, institutes and private learners: By reading the language skills are developed unconsciously and thus without much effort. In this contribution research into the effects of reading on language acquisition and the use this can have in education will be dealt with.

Importance of Incorporating Literature in the Language Classroom

Nepal Journal of Multidisciplinary Research

Literature is a prolific expression of human feelings, emotions, thoughts, opinions, and so on. Language is a system of communication that consists of a set of sounds, words, and grammar rules that are used by a particular group of people. The relationship between language and literature is complex and multifaceted, with each influencing and enriching the other in a variety of ways. Literature can be an effective tool for improving language skills and deepening cultural understanding. The substantial objective of this article is to highlight the importance of incorporating literature in the language classroom. This article is based on the secondary qualitative data taken via books and journal articles regarding literature, language and the significance of literature for teaching language skills. Both teachers and students will be benefitted from this article as they will be encouraged and ignited to teach language in an innovative way through using literary texts. It will reflect ho...

Teaching Language through Literature: TEACHING LANGUAGE THROUGH LITERATURE: THE WASTE LAND IN THE ESL CLASSROOM 1

This article intends to show how literature may be used in language classes to develop student's knowledge of English. First, we examine the evolution of literature in the language classroom, then we give account of some reasons that justify its use in language classes, of the role of reading in language development, and of the way poetry is treated in the ESL classroom. The Waste Land is a good work to be used as a tool to develop student's communicative competence in English. The article ends with a didactic proposal for ESL instruction based on the poem.

The Advantages of using Literary Texts in the Language Classroom

International Journal of Social Sciences & Educational Studies, 2018

The use of literature was the ultimate goal in the language classroom when the grammartranslation method was popular in language teaching. In the 1960s and 1970s the use of literature in the language classroom lost its prestige because the grammar-translation method fell into disuse. The widespread assumption was that literature was complex hence only linguistically competent learners were able to understand it. However, in the 1970s and 1980s literature emerged as a contributing force in language teaching and since then it has been used in the language classroom to promote language proficiency development. Although its incorporation in language teaching is still a matter of debate today, literature has the potential to foster language learning. Literature is a potentially worthwhile source to help learners with language development, cultural improvement and personal growth. This article explores the benefits of using literature in the language classroom. More specifically, the article focuses on the contributions of literature to language acquisition.

Literature in language teaching: What, why and how

This short article first offers a quick overview of both theory and practice and then presents some straightforward practical suggestions for how to use literature in language classrooms. Finally, summaries are provided of articles in the first two issues of our peer-reviewed journal.

Teaching language through Literature: An innovative approach

Literature can be regarded as a rich source of 'authentic material' because it conveys two features in its written text: one is 'language in use,'i.e the employment of linguistics by those who have mastered it into a fashion intended for native speakers; the second is an aesthetic representation of the spoken language which is meant to recover or represent language within a certain cultural context. Teaching language through literature help teachers first to acquaint themselves with language use to develop their own competence and understand language as a social phenomenon, and not as an exclusive branch of learning. And another thing is that it transforms the classrooms as the stage in which there is real practice of communicative language. It also helps teachers to consider language as entailing social acceptability in other words; they can look to classroom language as carrying resemblance with the outside language. And As a result, this would raise communication ...

Teaching English Language through Literature: A Critical Study

Abstract: Literature in a language classroom provides enough space for the learners to comment, justify and mirror themselves. By using literary text the language class can turn out to be lively and motivating. Having formed part of traditional language teaching approaches, literature became less popular when language teaching and learning started to focus on the functional use of language. However, the role of literature in the ELT classroom has been re-assessed and many view literary texts as providing rich linguistic input, effective stimuli for students to express themselves in other languages and a potential source of learner motivation. This paper tries to analyze how literature can be used effectively for teaching English language and also tries to find out whether learning English Language is feasible through the use of Literature at all the stages of language learning. Key words: literature, traditional language, functional language, approaches, ELT.