[etni] literature isn't just for high school

From: Amanda Caplan <amandacaplan@xxxxxxxxx>
To: English teachers Network of Israel <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 23:22:19 +0200
Dear All,
I have been following the discussion on the choice of literature in the new
module with interest. However, as a junior high school teacher, I have to
add my penny's worth. We're also teaching literature, and I'm sure there are
elementary teachers out there who read stories and poems with their classes.
Literature is for all ages and, therefore, the discussion over choice of
materials is not the sole territory of high school teachers.
I don't want to get into the whole issue of HOTS and whether or not they are
appropriate for teaching literature in an EFL classroom. The program is
here, and I suspect it's here to stay for the foreseeable future, so let's
move on from this argument. Let's make sure we teach what's most appropriate
for our pupils. Why do ECB, or any of the other textbook publishers for that
matter, decide the texts? They don't! "Real" books are available from any
number of shops / importers and it's not my job to advertise them, but you
can go into any shopping mall, find the book shops and choose your books!

I would nearly always go for modern literature with my classes. Not because
the 'old' stuff isn't good, some of it is wonderful, but many pupils seem to
deal better with young adult modern  literature, and there's no shortage of
admirable and suitable texts. I have just finished reading "The Boy in the
Striped Pyjamas" by John Boyne (written in this millenium!) with a good 9th
grade class. Now, even though I describe them as 'good', this was the first
full length English novel that many of the pupils have read. They are
familiar with the subject matter (the Holocaust), but the book has a
different perspective from the one they are used to. The language was easy
enough for them to *enjoy* reading it (horror, shock!). And I know they did
enjoy it as other teachers (not English ones!) have asked me  about the
book - kids have told them about how they loved it. And yes, HOTS came into
the class, but they certainly didn't take over, nor did they detract from
the book or the pupils' involvement with it. And another yes, it was hard
work for me as it was the first time I'd taught it, but I know that I have
the basis for my lessons for the next couple of years, and then I'll get
bored and need a change, so I'll update again! And knowing that some of them
were so involved at the end that they cried made all the work worthwhile!

You know your classes, you make the decisions, especially in the lower
grades where we can teach English and not worry about Bagrut grades!

Wishing us all many hours of fruitful and pleasurable reading with and
without our pupils,
Amanda


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[etni] literature isn't just for high school

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