The Significance of Literary Texts in the Pedagogy of English Language in EFL and ESL Classrooms

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25079/ukhjss.v4n2y2020.pp22-27

Keywords:

Literary Texts, English language, Culture, Society & Language skills.

Abstract

Nowadays, one of the major concerns of teachers is usually about the material they intend to present to the students. The challenge that faces English classes is literature. The benefits of using literary texts in English language classes outweigh its shortcomings that specified by some literary critics, for instance, Chnara Khdhir and Mariwan Hasan pointed out this truth in their paper entitled, “The Importance of Literary Texts in Teaching Language in EFL Classes: The Waste Land as an Example”, which we strongly agree that one can easily learn a language through the literature of the target language. To learn a language one needs to study reading, writing, listening, and speaking; the four skills of the English language, which will all be available in the literature. Materials are provided, which are sufficient for these skills, but literary texts have ascertained a worthy source that accomplishes these abilities. Moreover, culture information is inferred via language learning, and yet with comprehension of the society. This is a characteristic of language that requires materials associating with culture. Culture is a basis for literature; namely; it does not merely imply that literature deals with culture, but literature about the culture of any specific user of that language. Furthermore, one can say the use of literary texts in language classes inspires more attentive and determined language learning. Thus, the students are not merely uncovered to the actual usage of language, but also they become critical scholars. As such, this study argues the causes behind focusing on the use of literary texts as a significant source in teaching the English language.

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Author Biographies

  • Bahra Taib Rashid, English Department, College of Basic Education, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimania, Kurdistan Region, F. R. Iraq

    I have an MA in TESOL at the University of Huddersfield in the UK in 2012. As I have a bachelor degree in English at the University of Sulaimani in 2009. Additionally a Diploma in Teaching English at the Teacher Training Institution in Sulaimani in 1995.I have computer, Internet, and language skills. I have attended many workshops seminars and conferences in and outside the country (America/ NAFSA) as I've got many certifications of them. I am interested in ‘Applied linguistics, Linguistics, Pedagogical Technology, Teaching Methods, and Psychology.

    I have authored and co-authored several academic papers one of them have been published by International Journal of Language and Linguistics. I’ve got a certificate of thanks and appreciation from the presidency of the University of Sulaimania in 2016-2017-2018-2019-2020 for our tolerance and hardworking during the financial crisis that we faced. Additionally, I’ve got a certificate of thanks and appreciation from the Dean as a reward for teaching English course voluntarily and thoroughly without any shortening for the employees of the college of basic education at Sulaimani on March 24, 2010 and too many other certificates of thanks and appreciation from various people due to my hard working and loyalty in whatever I did.

  • Mariwan Nasradeen Hasan, English Department, College of Basic Education,University of Sulaimani, Sulaimania, Kurdistan Region- F. R. Iraq

    He is interested in modernist literature post-modernist literature as well as comparative literature. He has authored and co-authored several books from them: The Image of Modern Man in T. S. Eliot’s Poetry, Modernism: A Critical Introduction, T.S. Eliot and Modern Literature, Where the River Flows: A Critical Study of T. S. Eliot’s Essays, T.S. Eliot: Critical Essays and Literary Stylistics: Literature and Language. He is a member of editorial board of several journals worldwide. From them Acuity Journal and Nobels Journal of culture, Art and Literature. He has been working as a general editor for some conferences in Khazar University in Azerbaijan and Mazanderan University in Iran. He has written many academic papers published by different journals throughout the world.

References

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Khdhir, H. Chnara, & Hasan, N. Mariwan (2016). “The Importance of Literary Texts in Teaching Language in EFL Classes: The Waste Land as an Example”, International Journal of Literature and Arts. 4(1), 1-6.

Chnara (2016) Pedagogy of English Language through Literary Texts to Non-Native Learners of English Language” International Review of Social Sciences. 4(12), 652-662

Crandall, J. (Ed.), (1987). ESL through Content Area Instruction: Mathematics, Science, Social Studies. Washington, DC: Centre for Applied Linguistics.

Davison, C., & Williams, A. (2001). Integrating Language and Content: Unresolved Issues. In B. Mohan, C. Leung, & C. Davison (Eds.), English as A Second Language in the Mainstream (pp. 51–70). New York: Longman/Pearson.

Derwing, T., DeCorby, E., Ichikawa, J., & Jamieson, K. (1999). Some Factors that Affect the Success of ESL High School Students. The Canadian Modern Language Review , 55, 532-547.

Ferradas, C., (2009). Enjoying Literature with Teens and Young Adults in the English Language Classroom. In BritLit: Using Literature in EFL Classrooms, the British Council or Contributors,

Keshavarzi, A., (2012). “Use of Literature in Teaching English”. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 46, 554-559

Published

2020-12-31

Issue

Section

Research Articles

How to Cite

The Significance of Literary Texts in the Pedagogy of English Language in EFL and ESL Classrooms. (2020). UKH Journal of Social Sciences, 4(2), 22-27. https://doi.org/10.25079/ukhjss.v4n2y2020.pp22-27