Literature
in the Language Classroom
Hsiao-wei Rupprecht
The use
of literature in the language classroom has multiple advantages. First, using literary texts can stimulate
students’ interest in language learning.
By studying literature in its original language, students learn to
process creative ideas in the language for native speakers and thereby grow
intellectually. Second, literature
provides contexts for students to learn words, expressions and grammatical
structures. By studying literary work,
students become aware of important linguistic forms and conventions in the
target language. Third, teaching
literature can help students appreciate the culture of the new language. When students understand the new society and
its people, they can interpret more easily discourse in the contexts of the new
language.
In my presentation,
I will explain my criteria for choosing stories to teach my advanced language students.
While examining stories, I pay special attention to the following:
length, lexical density, syntactic complexity, narrative style and thematic
variety. Contemporary Chinese
short-short fiction is my preferred genre for four reasons. First, its length is ideal. Students can finish studying a short-short
story in two to three hours of class time.
Second, its language is frequently colloquial. Students learn direct and indirect speech,
proverbs and idioms. Third, its ideas
often stem from current concerns or controversial debates. Students become acquainted with present-day
Chinese social, economic, and educational issues. Fourth, its popular appeal for native
speakers points to its entertaining value.
Students can learn language through pleasurable reading.