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Thinking Activity : Teaching Language Through Literature

Thinking Activity : Teaching Language Through Literature 


Teaching language through literature is a very important aspect. But questions are raised in our mind. Why teach literature for language teaching?


So here are some points….


  • Teach literature to developing learner autonomy by indicating that teacher is not the fount of knowledge

  • Literature stimulate students to interact with the texts creatively

  • focusing on the text rather than about the text etc….


Here some points to ponder :


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


Here some points through that activities or task can be designed to teach language using a novel. 



• Using beginnings and endings for guessing work : 


This activity matching the beginning and the ending of the novel. If we have more novel and we can find similar ending for that , this activity is preferable. So we have to guess which novel is really there and how language is used in that novel.


• Using translation activities (with advanced level learners) :


Translating proverbs or other culture-specific items can be translated. Asking students to translate it in English language and vice versa.


• Showing relationships within the text : 


This activity can be done through comparing cohesive devices


This activity can be done through comparing the relationships between characters and also using family charts. How there are using language in different ways.


Use writing style of the text:


In this activity we can find out writing style of the novel . In which manner write wrote novel. In which tense text is written.


2 ) What sort of activities to tasks can be designed to teach language 'poems'.


• Design pre-tasks, while-tasks and post-tasks: 


In this activity we have to design pre-activities that relates to the life of the reader and design questions related to poem to give as pre task.


Design ‘comprehension check’ activities for while-reading and also use video or audio of the poem.


Design Multiple choice questions, reading comprehension, role play, tenses, grammar and vocabulary activities for post-teaching


• Use visuals to support language of the poem: 


In this activity we can use multimedia visuals,  use simple hand drawings of poem, use available pictures of the poem, use recitation of poem.


• Concentrate on grammar items of the poem: 


Through this activity we can find out synonyms, antonyms, rhyming , tenses.


Example : If I hadn’t…I wouldn’t have (The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost)


Thank you .....



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