Thinking Activity: Teaching Language through Literature

 

Introduction

 

English education in India is largely based on the teaching of literature. It has only changed in recent years from teaching language to literature. The relationship between literature and English language education has been a difficult one during all these years. In many situations, when English language teaching took a structured approach, literature was taught as a separate subject. Nevertheless, current approaches have endeavored to review the value of literature and have begun to maintain its value again. These approaches emphasize the value of teaching literature in many ways, primarily as an agent for language development and improvement. Literature is an oral art that draws readers to appreciate the beauty of language. Literature is used in English language education to give students a sense of the classics of literature, to increase the general cultural awareness of students, to stimulate students' creative and literary imagination, and to develop their appreciation of literature. Literary texts provide a rich source of linguistic input and in addition to giving learners examples of grammatical compositions and presenting new vocabulary, skills in four languages ​​- listening, speaking, reading, and writing -. Literary texts provide opportunities for multi-social classroom experiences and can appeal to a variety of learning styles. Literature is beginning to be seen as a suitable vehicle for language learning and development, as it now focuses on language and authentic conditions.

 

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

 

 

·        The use of literature in the ELT classroom is enjoying revival for many reasons. Literature became less popular after becoming part of traditional language teaching approaches when the focus began on language teaching and functional use of language through teaching.

 

·        However, the role of literature in the ELT classroom has been re-evaluated and many now see literature (novel and short story) as rich linguistic input, an effective source of inspiration for students to express themselves in other languages ​​and a potential source of learning. Inspiration. .

 

·        Literary texts can be studied in their original forms or in simpler or shorter versions. Growing up stories in English are written especially for learners of other languages. Types of literary novels and short stories that can be studied inside and outside the ELT classroom

 

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

 

·        Video materials provide visual aids for the listening materials that learners are exposed to When they are practicing their listening skills, learners often find it difficult to hold their attention long enough once they are exposed to long conversations or passages without visual aids.

 

·        Videos can provide much more information for listeners and

·        can keep the attention focused on the aural material. On the other hand, authentic video materials can create a more realistic language learning environment and stimulate learners’ interest in English learning and enhance their comprehensive linguistic competence.

 

·        Language learning theories state that the process of language learning includes three key parts: language input (reading and listening), assimilation internal processing and memorization, and language output speaking, writing, and translation.