The Importance of Using Literature in EFL Classroom: Models of Teaching Literature

Content:

·         Introduction

·         Cultural Model

·         Language-based Model

·         Personal Growth Model

·         Integrated Model

·         Conclusion

Key words:

Approach, Literature, EFL classroom, Students, learner-centered, teacher-centered.

    First let me talk about the importance of using literature in the language classroom. There are different reasons why teachers use literature in EFL or ESL classrooms. The first reason is that it is good  method to motivate our learners. Besides, through using literary texts, students are able to acquire   knowledge about different issues, including history, culture, beliefs, the way people wore , etc. With the help of using literary texts in the classroom, teacher provides various information to students and also this supports them to improve their reading skills.

    There are different models to teach literature. These are common models used by teachers. First is cultural model. It sees literature as a product of historical and cultural circumstances and literary texts provide information about the target culture. This is traditional approach , mainly used in literature courses. The teacher who chooses this model, focuses on social , political background of the texts as well as characteristics of the movement and genre.  It is teacher-centered approach and it does not focus on language work, because of this reason this method is rejected in EFL teaching. Here, teacher only transmits knowledge about literature and provides students with information. Students are not active. Cultural model is seen as means of transmitting important feelings and ideas. Where students encounter different words and expressions. The teacher is the main source who provides students with information , lecturing and explaining some cultural aspects.  This approach has merits. Students have opportunity to learn about different cultures and appreciate them. They also get idea about that place where the story took place. As for drawbacks, it is teacher-centered and there is  little focus on language work.

     The second model is language-based.  This is quite common approach used in EFL classes. It is learner-centered, so students are active. Teachers focus students attention to the usage of language in a given literary text. Through observing the literary texts, students have opportunity to see how some grammatical points are used in the text. This approach raises students language awareness. Teachers use literature as a tool to teach certain vocabulary and structures. In language based model activities are learner - centered.  It focuses the way language is used and how linguistic forms convey literary meanings.  It focuses on grammar, structures, vocabulary, stylistics, etc. There are different activities teacher can apply in this model. It could be prediction tasks, summary writing, role play, creative writing, etc.

   Personal growth model is quite popular approach as well. Aim is to help students get pleasure in reading. It is student-centered approach. The purpose of using literary texts is to promote critical understanding and to give students a chance to discuss the issues given in the text.  Personal growth model , motivates students to select texts related to their personal experiences.  Students are encouraged to evaluate what they have read and to think about the merits of the work they read. While students are reading, they relate those issues to their personal lives. The text has no meaning , readers construct meaning based on their own experiences. This helps teacher to make students personally engaged in reading. Students become critical readers and they experience emotions while reading.

   Integrated model is the widest one. Here is the integration of linguistic, methodological and motivational elements. It improves cultural awareness as well as develops language skills and is good method for personal development. Here, teacher uses authentic texts and introduces different types and difficulties of English language. Besides, teacher provides students with strategies to involve them in both intensive and extensive reading. In this model, students are motivated and reading for enjoyment.

     To wrap up, these are common models used by teachers in EFL classrooms to make their students gain knowledge about culture, history and language itself. The literature is not only used for transmitting some information to students about the text. It has different aim as well. The purpose is to encourage students to interact with the text and connect their experiences , feeling and emotions with the literature. When literary texts are close to their lives, they feel more motivated and more involved.  For instance, the activity of listening the poem first and then filling the missing words in the poem, is the task which could be used in language-based model. With the help of this  kind of activity we make our learners to focus on vocabulary and its meaning. Other could be predicting what is the poem about, through giving students only the first lines of the poem. This will engage them in thinking process and will make them motivated.