USING literary texts in the classroom provides a rich source of authentic language and is an excellent way to expand vocabulary. However, the level of English required to read a novel and the time needed are often barriers to many students. John Hughes, an EL teacher and trainer in Cheltenham, UK, offers suggestions on how literary texts can be used to help improve learners' English.
It's untrue to suggest that learner's language skills will be improved by literature any more than by any other text, such as magazines, newspapers and websites. But by using literary texts alongside other texts, teachers can help students improve their reading skills.
First of all, teachers need to decide whether students have enough weeks in a term to complete a text such as a novel. Expecting students to rush through two or three chapters in a week can be a quick way to lose motivation.
Second, teachers need to set aside a particular part of lesson time for working with the text and give manageable amounts to read for homework.
Third, how to introduce the book is important. Here are the steps to introduce a book: discuss the illustration on the cover; ask students what they can predict about the book from the title; read the blurb on the back cover which can help students before launching into chapter one; set different tasks after reading each chapter. For example, write a summary of events from one chapter in the form of a newspaper article. With another chapter write a letter from the point of view of one of the characters.
Famous literary works have often been turned into films. Some may discourage showing the video to a class but if the novel is historical, a film version certainly helps students get a sense of the period and can lift the text off the page.
"Readers" are a useful option for students who are not at the advanced level of most novels. These are either original stories or adaptations of literary works specially written for learners. They are graded for different levels and draw on a limited number of words. Though not the originals, they do provide a motivating way to read a classic without having to look up every word.
