New Approaches to Literature for Language Learning

by Jeneen Naji, Ganakumaran Subramaniam, Goodith White

Overview

This book unpacks recent changes in the landscape of literature and language teaching, and aims to find new explanations for the altered relationships between readers and writers, the democratisation of authorship, and the emergence of new ways of using language. By examining topics as various as literature and technology, multimodality, and new Englishes, the authors take a fresh look at the use of literature as a tool in the teaching of English to second-language speakers. More than simply a way of teaching aesthetic and ethical values and rhetorical skills, they argue that literature can also be used to help students to critically evaluate assumptions about society, culture and power which underpin the production and reception of texts. The book relates theories of language acquisition and literary criticism to examples of literary texts from a wide range of global literature in English, and discusses new ways of engaging with it, such as transmedia story telling, book blogs and slam poetry. It will be of interest to language teachers and teacher trainers, and to students and scholars of applied linguistics, TESOL, and digital literacies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783030152550
Publisher:	Springer International Publishing
Publication date:	04/10/2019
Edition description:	1st ed. 2019
Pages:	222
Product dimensions:	5.83(w) x 8.27(h) x 0.00(d)

About the Author

Jeneen Naji is Digital Media Faculty in the Department of Media Studies in Maynooth University, Ireland.

Ganakumaran Subramaniam is the Head of School and Professor at the School of Education, University of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus.

Goodith White retired as Director of the Applied Language Centre, University College Dublin, Ireland in 2015, and is currently Senior Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Why is literature important for language learning?.- Chapter 2: Literature and Language Learning.- Chapter 3: Ways into Literature.- Chapter 4: Literature and Culture.- Chapter 5: Literature and Technology.- Chapter 6: Literature and Reading Communities.- Chapter 7: Literature and Multimodality.- Chapter 8: New Literatures in New Englishes.- Chapter 9: Literature and Personal Growth: A Look to the Future.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“This is an exciting new volume, in which the role of literature in language pedagogy is explored comprehensively from a broad range of perspectives. Each chapter offers fresh insight. While discussion about this important theme seemed to have somewhat stalled after the 1990s, this timely collection brings it back to life with renewed energy and makes it relevant to the 21st century. An invaluable resource to anyone involved in language teaching and learning.” (Mario Saraceni, Reader in English and Linguistics, University of Portsmouth, UK)

“Literature as a means to teaching language is a fairly old idea. But what is unique about this book is that it shows ways of learning language through interdisciplinary approaches to literature and culture. The notion of literature the book espouses helps study language not only syntactically but by reading text via literary theories. This is performed with equal attention to New Englishes, multimodal texts and reading communities. A must-read for specialists and non-specialists alike.” (Ashis Sengupta, Professor of English, University of North Bengal, India)

“This is a rare innovation in language learning through the medium of literature, which readily avails the learner the opportunity of encountering language in action through the many multi-levels and contexts of language use that literary texts exclusively afford. The relating of current trends in technology and multimodality to both literacy acquisition and literature makes this a work whose authors have seen the tomorrow of language learning in a wide variety of seasons and environments.” (Joseph A. Ushie, Poet & Professor of General Stylistics and Criticism, University of Uyo, Nigeria)

Editorial Reviews

I believe both language teachers and literature instructors can benefit from this book to a great extent. I particularly recommend the book to those who teach language skills courses, creative writing and EAP courses and to those who are interested in new digital literacies.” (Derya Altınmakas, BAAL News, Issue 118, 2021)

From the Publisher