Language Skills through Literature for ESL Learners – A Contextual Approach

Abstract

There is a conviction that grammar lessons and writing exercises in modern pedagogy should teach the English language. English language teaching (ELT) is not just confined to grammar and exercises. It involves various techniques and methodologies to nurture learners to acquire language skills, especially for English as a second language (ESL) learners. Though practical grammar provides application of the concept, contextual and cultural inputs will be missing. The teacher needs to involve the learner in a contextual way to learn the language. For this, lessons from literature make the best option. Short stories, poems, essays, articles, and excerpts from one-act plays can provide a strong literary base for language learning. The learner will understand the language’s beauty and application in the contextual setting. However, the teacher needs to match the language and literature to make the learner apply the skills. The present paper makes an analytical study of the key teaching – learning aspects of language learning through select literature-based topics with suitable references and examples.