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- Title
Exploiting Literature in the Teaching of English as a Second Language.
- Authors
Suntharesan, V.
- Abstract
The misconception that literature is a separate domain that hasn't any relevance to language learning exists among most teachers. This faulty assumption is found to be the result of the teacher's failure in recognizing the fact that literature is the sum product of the language. Furthermore, one ought to realize that literary masterpieces came into being only after the invention of the language. In fact, incorporating literature into the language curriculum motivates language learners and creates a cheerful environment in the classroom. The beneficial role of literary texts in Second Language Learning is studied in this paper with the help of authentic data elicited from an experiment carried out among learners. From the Faculty of Arts, University of Jaffna, 50 undergraduates reading in the 3[sup rd] Year were selected at random and divided into two groups i.e. the control group and the experimental group. An identical Pre-test was conducted among both groups and the results were found to be with very little variation. A literature-based syllabus incorporating selected works of English literature fused with skill based language exercises was produced for the experimental group. Textbooks on the four skills covering the same components were recommended for instruction for the control group. Classes in course lessons specifically designed for each group were held for 6 months. At the end of these six months, the students were required to sit Post-tests. Their performances in the tests showed that the experimental group that followed instructions based on literature-specific syllabus fared much better than the control group. The findings have impacts over the currently adopted syllabuses and stressed the benefit of literature oriented language activities.
- Subjects
FOREIGN language education; ENGLISH literature; LANGUAGE teachers; CURRICULUM; SECOND language acquisition; ENGLISH language education for foreign speakers in elementary schools
- Publication
Language in India, 2013, Vol 13, Issue 1, p307
- ISSN
1930-2940
- Publication type
Article