Email this article 
Hide
Show all
What is the Place of English Literature in ELT Classrooms? A Review of Related Studies
Abstract
The debate over the place and role of literature in language classrooms has long intrigued researchers and teachers’ interests over the years. Although there is an overall consensus that the teaching of literature in English language teaching (ELT) classrooms can help foster L2 learners’ language skills and cognitive abilities, some researchers have suggested that integrating literature in ELT classrooms should be approached with caution due to EFL learners’ limited language proficiency. In this paper, the researcher reviews previous related studies on the place of literature in the English language teaching (ELT) contexts. The aim of this review is to shed light on this researchers/teachers’ ongoing debate over the place of teaching English literature in ELT. In particular, the review examines how researchers perceive the role of literature and its authenticity in ELT classrooms as stimulating learners’ interests and personal engagement with literary texts, fostering L2 learners’ language skills (particularly their reading and creative writing skills), and enhancing their critical thinking skills and strategic processing of texts. Furthermore, the review covers issues related to how the integration of literature in language classrooms should be carefully task-designed and assessed.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Akyel, A., & Yalcin, E. (1990). Literature in the EFL class: A study of goal achievement incongruence. ELT Journal, 44(3), 174-180.
Amer, A. A. (2003) Teaching EFL/ESL Literature. The Reading Matrix 3 (2), 63-73.
Babaee, R. & Yahya, W.R (2014). Significance of Literature in Foreign Language Teaching. International Education Studies, 7 (4), 80-85.
Belcher, D. & Hirvela, A. (2000). Literature and L2 composition: Revisiting the debate. Journal of Second Language Writing, 9 (1), 21-39.
Bobkina, J., & Dominguez, E. (2014). The Use of Literature and Literary Texts in the EFL Classroom; Between Consensus and Controversy. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature, 3(2), 248-260.
Brumfit, C.J., & Carter, R.A. (1986). Literature and language teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Carter, R., & Long, M. N. (1990). Testing literature in EFL classes: Tradition and innovation. ELT Journal, 44(3), 215-221.
Carter, R.A. & Long, M.N. (1991). Teaching Literature. London: Longman.
Carter, R. & McRae, J. (1982). Language, Literature and the Learner. Longman, New York.
Carter, R., and McRae, J. (1996). Language, Literature, & the Learner: Creative Classroom Practice. (eds) London: Longman.
Coolie, L., & Slater, S. (1987). Literature in language classroom. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Collie, J., & Slater, S. (1991). Literature in the Language Classroom: A Resource Book of Ideas and Activities. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Crain, J. (1993). Four comments on two views on the use of literature in composition. College English, 55, 672-679.
Daskalovska, N. & Dimova, V. (2012). Why should literature be used in the language classroom? Procedia-Social Behavioral Sciences, 46, 1182-1186.
Duff, A. & Maley, A. (1990). Literature. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Erkaya, O. R. (2005). Benefits of using short stories in the EFL Context. Asian EFL Journal, 8, 1-13.
Gareis, E., Allard, M., & Saindon, J. (2009). The novel as textbook. TESL CANADA JOURNAL, 26 (2), 136-147.
Ghosn, I. K., (2002). ‘Four good reasons to use literature in primary school ELT’ ELT Journal 56 (2), 172-179.
Gower, R., & Pearson, M. (1986). Reading Literature. London: Longman.
Hirvela, A., & Boyle. J. (1988) ‘Literature courses and student attitudes’ ELT Journal 42 (3), 179-184.
Khatib, M., Rezaei, R., Derakhshan, A. (2011). Literature in the EFL/ESL classroom. English Language Teaching, 4(1), 201-208.
Langer, J. (1997). Literacy acquisition through literature. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, 40, 602-614.
Lazar, G. (1993). Literature and Language Teaching: A Guide for Teachers and Trainers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Lazar, G. (1994) ‘Using literature and lower levels’ ELT Journal 48(2), 115-124.
Lazar, G. (1996). Literature and Language Teaching; Exploring Literary Texts with the Language Learner. TESOL Quarterly, 30(4), 773-776.
Maley, A. (1989a). Down from the pedestal: Literature as resource. In R. Carter, R. Walker & C. Brumfit (eds.), Literature and the learner: methodological approaches. (pp. 1-9). Modern English Publications and the British Counsel.
Maley, A. (1989b). A comeback for literature? Practical English Teacher, 10 (59)
Maley, A. (2001) Literature in the language classroom. In R. Carter & D. Nunan (Eds.), The Cambridge Guide to Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Matos, A. G. (2011). (Re)placing Literary Texts in the Intercultural Foreign Language Classroom. International Education Studies, 4(5), 5.
McKay. S. (1982). Literature in the ESL Classroom. TESOL Quarterly, 16 (4), 529-536.
McKay, S. (2001) Literature as Content for ESL/EFL. In M. Celce-Murcia (Ed,), Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language. Heinle & Heinle.
Norris, R. W. (1994) ‘Getting Students More Personally Involved: An Alternative to the Yokudok- and Lecture-Dominated Methods of Teaching Literature and Reading’ Fukuoka Women’s Junior College Studies 48, 25-38.
Oster, J. (1989) ‘Seeing with Different Eyes: Another View of Literature in the ESL Class’ TESOL Quarterly 23 (1), 85-103.
Peacock, M. (1997). The effect of authentic materials on the motivation of EFL learners’ ELT Journal 51 (2), 144-156.
Savvidou, C. (2004). An integrated approach to the teaching of literature in the EFL classroom. The Internet TESL Journal (12).
Spack, R. (1985). Literature, reading, writing, and ESL: Bridging the gaps. TESOL Quarterly, 19, 703-725.
Stern, S. L. (2001) An Integrated Approach to Literature in ESL/EFL. In M. Celce-Murcia (ed.) Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language. Heinle & Heinle.
Su, S. W. (2010). Motivating and Justifiable: Teaching Western Literature to EFL Students at a University of Science and Technology. TESL-EJ, 14(1), 1.
Takagaki, T. (2002). The role of literature in college EFL reading classes in Japan. The Reading Matrix, 2(3).
Tasneen, W. (2010). Literary texts in the language classroom: A study of teachers’ and students’ views at international schools in Bangkok. Asian EFL Journal, 12(4), 173-187.
Tehan, P., Yuskel, D., & Inan, B. (2015). The Place of Literature in an English Language Teaching Program: What Do Students Think About It? The Reading Matrix, 15 (2), 45-52.
Timucin, M. (2001). Gaining insight into alternative teaching approaches employed in an EFL literature class. Revista de Filología y su Didáctica (24), 269-293.
Tomlinson, B. (1986) ‘Using poetry with mixed ability language classes.’ ELT Journal 40(1), 33-41.
Vandrick, S. (1996). Issues in using multicultural literature in college ESL writing classes. Journal of Second Language Writing, 5 (3), 253-69.
Yimwilai, S. (2015). An integrated approach to teaching literature in an EFL classroom. English Language Teaching, 8(2), 14.
Widdowson, H. G. (1983). Talking shop: Literature and ELT. ELT Journal, 37(1), 30-36.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.6n.7p.192
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
2012-2023 (CC-BY) Australian International Academic Centre PTY.LTD.
International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature
To make sure that you can receive messages from us, please add the journal emails into your e-mail 'safe list'. If you do not receive e-mail in your 'inbox', check your 'bulk mail' or 'junk mail' folders.