Journal of English Language Teaching

Developing an Exploratory Model for Using Literature to Teach English in Primary Level ESL Classrooms of Assam

Jushmi Gogoi

Assistant Professor, Department of English, PNGB Govt. Model College, Kakopather, Tinsukia, Assam

Keywords: use of literature, second language classroom, MT-supported models, ESL Classroom

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Abstract

Using literature in a language classroom can give students plenty of chances to pick up new words, sentence structures, and other rich linguistic inputs. It can also allow them to comment, defend, and reflect on themselves. A teacher can encourage and support the students’ engagement in the language classroom by employing literary texts. Numerous scholars have examined the advantages of employing literature in language classes and expressed the opinion that it can give students rich stimuli for expressing themselves in their target languages. It can help learners practice the four language skills—speaking, listening, reading, and writing—in addition to exemplifying grammatical structures and presenting new vocabulary. Literature can introduce students to many learning modalities. The mother tongue support for learning a second language was the main focus of NEP 2020. This paper tries to explore ways to use literature in a language classroom in some innovative ways, especially in the context of primary-level vernacular schools in Assam, where it is observed that most of the students from rural areas struggle to acquire the English language. This paper also attempts to develop some modules that use localized contextual examples and literature to teach the English language.

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