LITERATURE IN ENGLISH TEACHING METHOD DR. HUSNIAH SAHAMID FACULTY OF EDUCATION NIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA

What is literature? Macmillan English Dictionary : Literature / noun 1. stories, poems, and plays, especially those that are considered to have value as art and not just entertainment cultural documents which offer a deeper understanding of a country or countries (Basnet & Mounfold 1993)

Malaysian scenario 1980s attracted more interest among EFL teachers Literature based reading programmes 2000 – ELT syllabus Literature Paper – secondary, tertiary level

Relevance of Literary texts Provide rich linguistic input Literature is authentic material. Practise four skills: - speaking, listening, reading and writing Exemplify grammatical structures Present new vocabulary.

Referential Language Unambiguous Explicit Denotative/literal meaning Informational Engages cognitive faculties

Representational language Ambiguous Implicit Connotative/literary meaning Multiple meanings Engages emotions, imagination, empathy etc

Representational language rich in multiple layers of meaning and can be effectively mined for discussions sharing feelings or opinions.

Readings Efferent Reading referential text Glean factual information Aesthetic Reading representational text emotionally & experientially

Display of student output posters of student creations poems, stories, performances of plays.

Literature as Resource Language awareness Focus on process Language based activities Learner -centred

Literature for Study Critical appreciation Focus on product/text centred Stylistic analysis/criticism Reader/learner as critic

Language Awareness Different genres, narrative structures point of view, text types etc Present in everyday language Opportunities to develop language awareness

Develop understanding of other cultures Develop tolerance and understanding. universal themes (love, war and loss)

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