REASONS FOR TEACHING ENGLISH THROUGH LITERATURE

Adriana Coscai

Liceul Teoretic “Nicolae Cartojan”, Giurgiu

 

 

REASONS FOR TEACHING ENGLISH THROUGH LITERATURE

 

It is obvious that literature is a very interesting and elegant way of teaching English. Students can acquire both a rich vocabulary and elements of culture and civilization. They are challenged with language input that may be slightly beyond their level of comprehension. This language input can be provided by reading literature. The selection of literary works is made by teachers according to the level of their students. There are also different kinds of activities based on reading literature: listening, shared reading, independent reading and drama.  irrespective what students choose when they decide to get into contact with English literature, the main advantage is the language acquisition.

 Among so many modern teaching methods and the tornado of technology, there is still literature as an ever-lasting value. The advantages of reading literature are not only for the students but also for the people around them. Parents and teachers should make an effort and motivate children to love reading and the results will be very rewarding. After reading literature, everybody notices that students get the ability of expressing feelings, emotions, and different issues and discover better ways to live.

It is wrong to consider that literature has nothing to do with language teaching and learning, seeing it as a separate school subject. Regardless the difficulties teachers may encounter, literature exposes children to various topics which can be discussed and interpreted during the  English classes. This large variety of topics can motivate students to read more. Reading literature is considered a wonderful and safe way to master the language that is used in everyday life. Real life contexts are analyzed and understood easily when students have amet literature. Written or spoken media can be wonderfully enriched by those who have read literature.

Literature inspires and elevates so students can be different after reading it. Students who read literature are able to perceive hidden truth, tell the right from the evil, see the bright side of different situations, and deal with complex events in a creative way. Literature can help students to reason well. Literature can urge students to know themselves and analyze their own virtues and vices.

Literature challenges students to travel around the world without leaving their room. Using imagination they can experience a time lap or visit different planets. Students can use literature as a perfect guide into an unknown world.

They may understand people, accept a different point of view on a certain matter, become tolerant and their mind may become more flexible. Students have the opportunity of getting accustomed to persons of different races, class or age and discover the genuine sympathy.

Reading literature, students can exercise their imagination, live in the characters’ world, and understand their joys and sorrows.

It is natural to also think of translating literature as a valuable teaching method. Away from grammar translation we can use this method and thus we promote literary values and revitalize language.

Translation is an important learning method in teaching English or any other foreign language. Translation is a method that helps students to acquire, develop and strengthen competences or knowledge. Being integrated into the language learning practice beside the usual learning activities, the well-known reading, listening, writing, and vocabulary development, translation activities are some necessary tools in learning English. This latter kind of activities makes students understand and communicate correctly in both languages: Romanian and English.

While translating, learners meet the challenge of noticing differences in vocabulary of both languages, getting better grammar knowledge, shaping their thoughts or opinions and even correcting some mistakes that otherwise may have remained unnoticed. If teachers encourage students to use translation skills properly, all those translations may become an important knowledge asset and learners can make the best of their learning.

Teachers can use translation as a proper activity during classes with upper-intermediated or advanced students bringing literature in the spotlight. Another advantage is that translation can be considered as a first step in improving communication. Whether someone thinks that it is a time-consuming activity, that person must acknowledge the importance of linguistic transfer of meaning from Romanian to English and vice-versa.

Therefore, these are the main reasons to consider literature as one of the most important stage in teaching a foreign language.

 

Bibliography:

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/literature