Department of English MKBU

 

 

 

 

Name: Kinnari Halvadiya

Sem: 4

Paper No.: 14 ELT - 2

Sub/ Topic: Teaching English Through Literature

Batch: 2019 - 2021

Submitted to: S. B. Gardi

E-mail: kinuhalvadiya17@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

English Literature…

 

However, until the early 19th century, it only deals with the literature of the United Kingdom, the Crown dependencies and Ireland. It does not include literature written in the other languages of Britain. The English language has developed over the course of more than 1,400 years.

 

"Every language is a temple in which the soul of those who speak is enshrined."

-Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.

Literature and Language can work together and interact for the benefit of students and teachers. It will lead to the flourishment of interesting ideas, learning, and improved instruction for all. Many teachers consider the use of literature in language teaching is an interesting and worthy perception.

How Literature can influence the English Language Learning?

 

“Literature just adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become” C.S. Lewis (British Scholar and Novelist, 1898-1963).

Since English has become an international important language, more and more people are studying it. “The study of literature allows people to develop new ideas and ethical standpoints, and can help individuals to present themselves as educated members of society. Studying literature can be enriching, eye-opening experience”

Traditionally, the role of Literature was not taken into consideration in English Language Teaching programs due to the importance given only to functional language. Today, Literature in second language classes has a very important linguistic input for students and it is a valuable source for learners’ motivation.

Usually, students who study only English Language emphasising on reading and writing skills, sometimes fail to see the point of studying English literature, especially if they have no plans to study English or Translation at University. But English Literature can introduce students to a range of aspects, not only of the English Language but also of the English culture.

There are parts of the English culture that are “encapsulated” by English Literature. Of course, this is quite evident when studying the works of Shakespeare or other writers, poets and playwrights of last centuries.

Teachers are the basic pillars to reach students through literature trying to attract them to this field that can be interesting to everyone. Teachers should think about everything that they are going to do without falling in boredom and keep their students interested in the topic. Also, we, as teachers, consider that we are the ones who must make students get closer to Literature so that they can realise that it is not as abstract as they think, trying to avoid their frustration. Also, it is useful to have literary texts and their analysis easier made for students.

 

“The study of literature offers many ways to improve literacy: it gives access to language, reading, writing, a shared culture and one’s own self. “

 

1) What sort of activities or tasks can be designed to teach language using a 'novel' or 'short story'.

Teaching a novel to English language learners can be a challenging task because of its length. Literature instructs as well as provides pleasures. The teaching of language through Literature not just encourages curiosity towards learning but also keep the students occupied with the language learning process in an interesting manner. The ambience in the classroom changes dramatically with the introduction of literature. There is no doubt that literature will help the learners to get a good command over the language. In other words, language is something that has to be caught and not taught. If literature is made part of the curriculum in technical education, language learning will become a really enriching experience for the students. Oral reading, dramatization, improvisation, role- playing, re-enactment, and discussion are some effective learning activities which center on a short story EFL classes can use for enhancing these two skills. Asking students to read story aloud can develop their speaking as well as listening skills.

Short story can be a powerful and motivating source for writing in ESL/EFL, both as a model and as subject matter. Short story as a model occurs when students’ writing becomes closely similar to the original work or clearly imitates its content, theme, organization, and /or style. However, when student writing exhibits original thinking like interpretation or analysis, or when it emerges from, or is creatively stimulated by, the reading, literature serves as subject matter.

Short story can also be a powerful and motivating source for teaching both speaking and listening. Oral reading, dramatization, improvisation, roleplaying, re-enactment, and discussion are some effective learning activities which center on a short story EFL classes can use for enhancing these two skills. Asking students to read story aloud can develop their speaking as well as listening skills. Moreover, it also leads to improving pronunciation.

 

2) What sort of activities or tasks can be designed to teach language using a 'poem'.

 

While teaching language through a poem (literature), one must know that there still exists a thin line between 'high' and 'popular' literature. But while teaching language, this becomes a secondary concern. Learning a language through poetry can not only improve the opportunities of reading, writing, speaking, and listening but also enhances the rhythmic sense of the learner. Poetry is one of the best ways to encourage students to immerse themselves in learning the language in an interesting and creative manner.

 

 

 

 

Pre -Task.

Searching rhyme words

Rhyme scheme\ Game

Understandable words

While Studying …

some interesting unique examples

Enjoying the Rhyme

Deep Discussion

Understand the structure

Post Task...

quiz

spell test

Thinking activity

Vocabulary

3) What sort of activities or tasks can be designed to teach language using a 'film or videos'.

Language teachers have been using films in their classes for decades, and there are a number of reasons why film is an excellent teaching and learning tool.

Learning from films is motivating and enjoyable

Motivation is one of the most important factors in determining successful second-language acquisition. Films and TV shows are an integral part of students’ lives so it makes perfect sense to bring them into the language classroom. Film, as a motivator, also makes the language learning process more entertaining and enjoyable.

Film provides authentic and varied language

Another benefit of using film is that it provides a source of authentic and varied language. Film provides students with examples of English used in ‘real’ situations outside the classroom, particularly interactive language – the language of real-life conversation. Film exposes students to natural expressions and the natural flow of speech. If they are not living in an English-speaking environment, perhaps only film and television can provide learners with this real-life language input.

Film gives a visual context

The visually of film makes it an invaluable language teaching tool, enabling learners to understand more by interpreting the language in a full visual context. Film assists the learners’ comprehension by enabling them to listen to language exchanges and see such visual supports as facial expressions and gestures simultaneously. These visual clues support the verbal message and provide a focus of attention.

Variety and flexibility

Film can bring variety and flexibility to the language classroom by extending the range of teaching techniques and resources, helping students to develop all four communicative skills. For example, a whole film or sequence can be used to practise listening and reading, and as a model for speaking and writing. Film can also act as a springboard for follow-up tasks such as discussions, debates on social issues, role plays, reconstructing a dialogue or summarising. It is also possible to bring further variety to the language learning classroom by screening different types of film: feature-length films, short sequences of films, short films, and adverts.

Given the benefits of using film in the language learning classroom, it is not surprising that many teachers are keen to use film with their students, and an increasing number of them are successfully integrating film into the language-learning syllabus. Until quite recently it was difficult to find pedagogically sound film material to help students improve their language through watching film, and teachers had to spend many hours creating their own materials. However, with the advent of the internet there is now a wealth of online resources for both language teachers and their students. With so many resources, it’s sometimes difficult for teachers to see the wood for the trees.

Lesson plans

There are many websites and blogs which provide detailed and well-structured lesson plans based on film and television clips, short films and viral videos, which save the busy teacher a lot of time. Here are my personal favourites.

Film guides

If you want to show whole films, either in one sitting or over a number of sessions, it’s necessary to do quite a lot of work on linguistic, cultural and cinematographic features of the film prior to actually watching the film. Not so long ago, teachers had to spend many hours creating their own film guides, but nowadays there are several sites where teachers can find free, high-quality film guides to use in the language classroom.

 

Short films

Creating moving images has never been easier thanks to the digital revolution, the proliferation of mobile devices, the increased ease of capturing and editing video, and the emergence of video distribution sites such as YouTube and Vimeo. This has led to an explosion in the production of short films and their availability. However, due to the sheer quantity of short films, it’s often very difficult for teachers to find high-quality short films they can use with their students. Here are my three favorite places for finding creative and innovative short films.

English Central

Possibly the best website for students to improve their speaking and pronunciation. This site provides students with videos with subtitles. The students watch the videos, practice vocabulary used in the video, record themselves repeating what they hear, and then get feedback on their pronunciation.

Animated movie makers

There are a number of websites where students can create their own animated short films and practice and improve their writing, vocabulary and speaking. Here are the two sites I’ve found students like most.

Learning a language can become easier with the help of literature. The learners can improve their reading skills by reading a picture- story if they find any word difficult enough to understand its meaning, the flow of the story can become one of the tools to understand or develop the sense of the meaning of the word. Similarly, it is said that read a thousand books and your words will flow like a river, by reading, speaking skills would enhance.

Task-based language teaching is a student-centered approach to second language instruction. It is an offshoot of the communicative approach, wherein activities focus on having students use the authentic target language in order to complete meaningful tasks, i.e., situations they might encounter in the real world and other project-based assignments.

 

 

CONCLUSIONS:

Literature has been proven as a great tool to approach English language and English culture. Even though there are students and teachers that consider it as too abstract or bored, we, as teachers now and students in the past have experienced the situation and we can say that it works. It gets you closer to the language, culture as well as customs and it is always a way of learning how to write and spell correctly.  Teachers should make literature interesting for students.

That is the reason why this quotation resumes in one sentence what we truly think: “Literature will increase all language skills because literature will extend linguistic knowledge”

 

References:

Pardede, Parlindungan. “Using Short Stories to Teach Language Skills.” Short Stories, Christian University of Indonesia Jakarta, Indonesia, 1 Feb. 2011.

Roslaniec, Anna, et al. “5 Benefits of Using Video in Class.” Resources for English Language Learners and Teachers | Pearson English, 23 Oct. 2018, www.english.com/blog/5-benefits-of-using-video-in-class/.

 

 

Thank You

  

Words: 2003