Why teach Literature?

Literature is the ideal vehicle to enable English as a second language. Students recognize their own and other points of view and values. When using literature in an English foreign language class, students get the chance to interact among them, they are able to explore the English language because literature is made of language.
Literature is a great tool to be used in an E.F.L.class because students will be in contact with the language they are learning. The more students read literary texts the more involved they will be with language; this is a way for students in EFL classroom to develop language competence. Carter and Long (1991) states that “there are three main reasons for the teaching of literature these are: The cultural model, the language model, and the personal growth.” These main reasons allow students from an EFL class achieve culture and ideology from an English speaking country, by using literature, students, through language, have the opportunity to read, listen, write and speak, to access a text in a systematic and methodical way in order to exemplify specific linguistic features e.g. literal and figurative language, direct and indirect speech. These skills are developed in an EFL class. And, of course, while knowing about language and culture the student is being helped to grow in a second language. Learners are encouraged to express their opinions and feelings and make connections between their own personal and cultural experiences and those expressed in the text.
In a E.F.L.classroom, the major purpose is for students to communicate In the foreign language. Teachers should expose them to a variety of oral and written language. Savvidou (2004) mentions Kinneavy’s communication triangle which is useful for English students to reinforce the oral and written skill. This triangle includes: 1) expressive: it focuses on personal expression (letters, diaries, etc.); 2) transactional: it is about the reader and the message (advertising, business letters, editorials, instructions, etc.); and 3) poetic: it takes into account the form and language (drama, poetry, novels, short stories, etc.) It is clearly seen that literature is useful in the EFL classroom. It can provide a powerful pedagogic tool in learners’ development. Students, through Literature, are able to acquire vocabulary and study grammar structures.