Focus of This Paper This paper focuses on some creative techniques to promote the teaching-learning of English literature. Interview with Prof. Elinor Saiegh-Haddad in BIU... General course in the School of Communication. It’s more engaging to read a novel about another time or place than to learn about it in a lecture or from a textbook. There is a great deal that literature can teach. And educators often use literature to promote this kind of thought actively, by teaching students how to analyze what they read, understand others’ opinions about the text, and formulate their own views. Texts can be supplemented by audio-texts, music CDs, film clips, podcasts, all of which enhance even further the richness of the sensory input that students receive. Open a book of poems. 1st Grade Activities on Comparing and Ordering Numbers: The Dice Game & Comparing Activity, Preschool Black History Activities: Age-Appropriate Awareness. Few activities give students’ critical abilities such a workout as the close reading of a work of literature. When choosing works of English literature to teach in a ESL classroom, choose pieces that have an accompanying film. [caption id=”” align="aligncenter” width="600”]. Which model appeals to you the most? It is a chance to discover how literature makes sense of the world through stories, poems, novels and plays. If the love is not there *yet* for you, I give you this challenge. Why Is Literature Important? It is about people and emotions, unlocking feelings we … In this lesson we find commonalities between the "Twilight" series and other literature, but the lesson could be adapted to work with any young adult novel, from the "Harry Potter" series to … Qkids – Teach English Online to Chinese Students. I’ve also added them by category so that they are useful to those who haven’t got the book. Development:Center of IT & IS BIU. Studying English literature opens up a world of inspiration and creativity, while also developing skills that are essential for today's global environment. The defenses and apologias come in two kinds: one insisting that English majors make better people, the other that English majors (or at least humanities majors) make for … They receive a thorough introduction to essential literary genres (novels, poems, criticism) and study the work of great canonical authors (Shakespeare, Milton, Austen, Dickens) as well as contemporary ones. Free Resources from ‘How to Teach English Literature’ If you have read my book, you can find all the resources I mention organised by name and page reference. And reading literature is a great way to build and enhance vocabulary. By studying a degree in English Literature, you will learn how to analyze a multitude of texts and write clearly using several different styles. It’s often used as a ‘common tongue’ if neither person is a native speaker. Huckleberry Finn, for example, puts students into the mind of a boy living in the south in the 1800s, letting them experience his life firsthand. For students who already have an undergraduate degree, we offer MA programs in Literature, including emphases in Creative Writing and Literary Translation, as well as a PhD in Literature. Also, literature is often more interesting than the texts found in coursebooks. The MA in English with a focus on Literary Translation combines advanced study of English literature with practical workshops taught by highly accomplished translators. All Rights Reserved. Why is British Literature important to teach in today's high school curriculum? Why use literature in the ELT classroom? Literature unlocks the world, allowing an understanding of culture, history, society and politics that might otherwise be closed off. English crosses cultures, countries and industries. Many older works of literature are still taught primarily because of their authors’ way with language. In this day and age there seems to be a move towards secondary school subjects which have a strong link to a tertiary course of study. Estimates vary about how many people speak English worldwide, but some believe English-speakers are likely to number in the billions. The same goes for books about other countries, which teach students what life is like in other parts of the world. It's created more standardisation; certainly teachers who aren't putting effort in will be forced out. In this model, the class reads fiction or poetry as part of th… This means teaching people English can be truly rewarding: students of English have many new opportunities and doors open to them thanks to their skills. From the linguistic perspective, studying classic literature from the Western canon (Shakespeare, Dickens, Orwell and so on) affords students of … Why Study English Literature? The world will always need teachers. Current books and movies, among other works, often reference older texts. Give it a try! Apart from that, teachers should have discovered the benefit of teaching literature in ESL classroom. When people speak they tend to use a fairly limited vocabulary, so the best way to become exposed to new words is to read. Studying English literature opens up a world of inspiration and creativity, while also developing skills that are essential for today's global environment. To teach literature to college students, you will need to incorporate strategies that work at the college level, find ways to maintain a positive class environment, develop a teaching strategy that is comfortable for you, and design a course that meets your department’s requirements. Diane Ravitch and Chester E. Finn Jr. discuss the importance of history and literature in the American high-school curriculum. Due to the descriptive nature of a story, any novel will include plenty of words students have likely never seen or heard before. Education is supposed to give students the tools they need to become a valuable part of society, and one such tool is the ability to think critically. But the number one way to become a better writer is to read often. The reason for this may be because they don’t think it fits with the curriculum and what they are teaching. First of all… why exactly should you teach literature? Students in this program write a translation thesis as their final project. Use combinations of media–classic and modern together, leveraging one against the other. 2.1.2 THE BENEFITS OF TEACHING LITERATURE IN ESL CLASSROOM. But English literature can introduce students to a range of aspects, not only of the English language but also of English culture. For example, I teach a list of biblical allusions that appear in the English language that I feel all students should understand. What can your students gain from the experience? It can teach us about the past and the present and even about the future. Of course, to most educators these questions seem ludicrous. English literature teachers help students explore the work of English writers throughout history and the world. English Literature Dictionary/Glossary for Students. 9. An English literature degree can open a number of doors once you’ve graduated. Literature is more experienced than taught (Glazer, 1986, p. 51). Read the odd poem to … And because they’re reading a story and not drilling, they probably won’t even realize they are building their vocabulary (hence they won’t be able to complain about it). Accessibility Statement, Department of English Literature and Linguistics, About the BA Program in English Literature, MA English Literature and Creative Writing. If you're not sure how to teach questioning techniques and how to apply it to literature, click here. 6 Reasons Why Teaching English is For You As I’m sure you know by now, you already have a skill that can easily translate into a steady income in a foreign country…English. English literature bears responsibility for the failings in curricular implementations. Take the Bible, for instance. Literature serves as a valuable teacher and an example to students who are first learning to use written language to communicate with the world. Studies in the department are conducted in English. Stories have been of central importance to the human race ever since it began, as far as we can tell. Few textbooks could be said to do the same thing. Training to teach English English is a vital subject at the core of the curriculum, one that can be integral to young people’s long-term prospects and success. You can also analyze its impact on society and the ways it compares and contrasts with other texts. Students in each of the tracks engage in high-level study of literature and cultivate their abilities in advanced interpretation, innovation, and writing. Despite concerns about religion in schools, it is commonly taught in some form or another because it has so heavily influenced our culture. 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Opportunities to delve deeper into your field with a postgraduate course are a good choice should you find a particular genre or style of literature that you are particularly passionate about. And while books aren’t the only kinds of stories out there, they are one of the most important. Studying English Literature in the USA will give you a better understanding of the world around you. Many novels encourage critical thinking on their own, due to the issues and themes they explore. It is about people and emotions, unlocking feelings we … Without a working knowledge of those older texts, you can’t understand the new ones as fully as possible. Novels such as The Great Gatsby, The Scarlet Letter, and The Catcher in the Rye are noted for their unique style and creativity with language. Studying English literature opens up a world of inspiration and creativity, while also developing skills that are essential for today's global environment. In fact, thousands of people just like you have already used the fact that they speak English fluently to become English teachers in exotic new countries. My claim here, I admit, is as unsatisfactory as it is true. Truly, British literature is at the foundation of English-speaking peoples' culture. Anyone going into teaching now will be used to … How the teacher … Literary texts provide opportunities for multi-sensorial classroom experiences and can appeal to learners with different learning styles. From the linguistic perspective, studying classic literature from the Western canon (Shakespeare, Dickens, Orwell and so on) affords students of English the … A Literature degree provides transferable skills that teach you to deconstruct and analyze in order to provide a critical viewpoint in all areas. Music, … English Literature refers to the study of texts from around the world, written in the English language. Literature serves this goal in a couple of ways. I do not teach a separate Bible As Literature course, but I do incorporate several stories from the Bible in my World Literature, British Literature, and American Literature courses. Note - many of these older novels are available in the public domain. Literature teaches us about laughter and … Truly, British literature is at the foundation of English-speaking peoples' culture. Three models of literature-based teaching in the language classroomhave been developed, each one based on a different and compelling reason for the practice: The Cultural Model. Teaching of literature in language classes has became a fashion. This program is actually very similar to VIPKID, … Education is supposed to give students the tools they need to become a valuable part of society, and one such tool is the ability to think critically. Because education is and should be about more than passing on dry information; it’s also about fostering critical thinking skills and an understanding of the world around us. Critical analysis of literature somehow destroys pleasure in it. Why Study English Literature? They may not “have time” to fit it in. This means teaching people English can be truly rewarding: students of English have many new opportunities and doors open to them thanks to their … Students who are encouraged to read have a more intimate knowledge of the ways in which language works, and so have an advantage when it comes time for them to write. Advanced seminars expose students to new horizons, such as translation and creative writing, and invite them to consider various special topics in literary study: literature and gender, literature and the visual arts, literature and religion and so on. These programs also offer an opportunity for individual research regarding a literary question, topic, or theme of your design, under the mentorship of a faculty advisor. Teaching questioning techniques helps students apply higher level thinking skills, so the next time someone asks how to teach literature, tell them by teaching questioning techniques. Reading literature is essential to our lives, but motivating students to read can be challenging, especially as a new English teacher. To reap the full benefits of literature in the classroom, you can certainly combine all three models . Subjects can be broad and far-reaching, but can also be specific. The English literature has a wide readership. Copyright © 2020 Bright Hub Education. Different models of teaching literature in class There have been different models suggested on the teaching of literature to ESL/EFL students (Carter & Long, Lazar). The Diary of Ann Frank is a great example of this effect, since it exposes students American students to both a country and time period not their own (and most likely a nationality and religion as well). It can teach us about the past and the present and even about the future. Consequently, it is indispensable to find out some creative techniques to teach English literature to the Indian students. Many novels encourage critical thinking on their own, due to the issues and themes they explore. It is also a chance to sharpen your own ability to write, read, analyze and persuade. They’ll see those words in context, learning their meanings passively rather than having to drill. Help them focus on what is being said and why–and how. Through this experience they learn what it was like to live in that time period, how the people talked and thought and acted. According to Dr. Ganakumaran Subramaniam, a president of Malaysian English Language Teaching Association (MELTA), literature is introduced into syllabus for plentiful purposes. 16 years after enjoying a high school literary education rich in poetry, I am a literature teacher who barely teaches it. If students are to understand and participate in the culture to which they belong, they must first learn about the stories that culture has been built around. Check out Project Gutenberg for access. Having a large and wide-ranging vocabulary is essential for a number of reasons. References and allusions to biblical stories are all around us, so not knowing those stories puts you at a disadvantage. It’s often used as a ‘common tongue’ if neither person is a native speaker. Subjects can be broad and far-reaching, but can also be specific. We want them to not just passively consume whatever is around them, but to analyze and criticize it as well. In today’s fact-obsessed culture, why is literature important and why do teachers put such an emphasis on this subject?  Why bother having kids read stories, spend their time with books about things and events that aren’t even real? Creative Techniques of Teaching Literature 122 usually found in studying literature. And there are plenty of more recent novels that are just as well written. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. When you read you are being immersed in language, in the way it sounds and feels when put together in the right ways. Literature unlocks the world, allowing an understanding of culture, history, society and politics that might otherwise be closed off. For example, I teach a list of biblical allusions that appear in the English language that I feel all students should understand. I do not teach a separate Bible As Literature course, but I do incorporate several stories from the Bible in my World Literature, British Literature, and American Literature courses. However, as we try to reach students who are reading increasingly shorter and shorter pieces, or not at all, one question arises: Do we need to change how and what we teach in English courses, or is it … The larger your vocabulary is, the more in depth and thoughtful discussions you can have on important topics and issues, both in and outside of the classroom. Then others stay clear. The internet is English It is a chance to discover how literature makes sense of the world through stories, poems, novels and plays. It helps with both writing and reading abilities, of course, but it also allows for more complex discourse. Commonly, teachers use literature for the development of the four skills of language as well as for providing knowledge of the world. Cultures are built on stories—histories, myths and legends, fables, religions, and so on. Works of literature, at their best, provide a kind of blueprint of human society. Keeping in same vein, Karci and Vural (2011) argue that, let alone English literature, teachers often do not even think to be qualified to teach English language, hence, Turkish students‟ poor command of English language. We want them to not just passively consume whatever is around them, but to analyze and criticize it as well. Or, perhaps, you teach young adult literature or pair YA novels with classics. Job Security. You can learn to think critically about the events and characters in a novel, the themes it presents, the author’s purpose in writing it, and the ways it fits into a certain time period. In summary, literature takes students out of their own lives and lets them experience things that are new and challenging, and encourages them to imagine possibilities and to think about ways the world could be different. A graduate degree in Literature represents a high standard of achievement in analysis and critical reasoning. It’s a goal of education to expose them to ideas from other cultures, to teach them about the histories and peoples of other times and places. Pairing with Movies. Studying English literature is not about grades and it really shouldn’t be framed that way. Why not just teach them what they need to know and send them on their way? Literature can teach to the individual and to all of society. From the writings of ancient civilizations such as Egypt and China to Greek philosophy and poetry, from the epics of Homer to the plays of William Shakespeare, from Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte to Maya Angelou , works of literature give insight and context to all the world's societies. Teachers use literature to help students understand themselves better and connect with the world around them in a deeper way by exploring universal themes. Literature is an ideal way to do this. It is also a chance to sharpen your own ability to write, read, analyze and persuade. The Department of English Literature and Linguistics is proud of its warm, inclusive atmosphere, devoted academic faculty, and excellent administrative staff. Enhance vocabulary those older texts, you teach young adult literature or pair YA with... So not knowing those stories puts you at a disadvantage Paper this Paper this Paper Paper. It has so heavily influenced our culture critical viewpoint in all areas ” align= '' ”! 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