Journal of English Language Teaching

The Art of Teaching English Language through Literature

Chodiganji Ravi

Assistant Professor, Department of English, Rajaj RSRK Ranga Rao College, Vizianagaram, Andhrapradesh

Keywords: Teaching language through literature

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Abstract

Literature is an art form dealing with the needs of the students. A literary piece is not an end in itself but the means of beginning a creative process in the minds and emotions of the students. For many students literature can be a key to motivate them to read in English. It encourages the students to exercise their sensitivity and imagination. So literature is an ideal vehicle for illustrating language use and for introducing cultural assumptions.

In the literature-based classroom, literature can be the primary material of teaching the target language, providing authentic and real contexts of communicative situations which enhance the communicative competence of the students. It also provides the  pleasure  of  learning  a  new  language with  and  through  interesting  stories. Students can extend their knowledge and experience of the world by reading literature. The language teacher should encourage students to read literature for their own meanings and experiences instead of being forced to accept the teacher’s perception of the text literature provided examples of effective and appropriate usage of the language for the students to learn. Literature  also  shows  students  new  ways to  view  the  world  around  them  by constructing meaning from the text.

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