Essay about Teaching Literature - 2176 Words

Teaching Literature My own suspicion is that the universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we *can* suppose. - J.B.S. Haldane, On Being the Right Size in the book _Possible Worlds_ (courtesy of The Quotations Page) The inclusion of gay and lesbian authors in high school and college curricula can only help to expose students to things which they will more than likely face in their adult lives. The traditional readings should be read in conjunction with gay and lesbian authors in many schools’ English curricula, simply because most modern students cannot relate to the speech or themes of the traditionally taught works by usually straight British and American writers or by authors who were gay, lesbian,†¦show more content†¦In her article â€Å"Coming-Out Pedagogy: Risking Identity in Language and Literature Classrooms,† Brenda Jo Brueggemann points out that â€Å"although risks and possibilities are present in all our classrooms, they are enhanced in courses focused on sexuality.† She argues that gay (and sometimes bisexual) students often perceive a class in gay and lesbian studies as a place where they can ‘be themselves,’ read about others like them, and acquire increased self-worth.† Many critics of bringing GLBT authors and literature into high schools seem to assume that many students are not mature enough to handle the themes presented in such literature, but as evidenced by many studies on the subject of today’s teens maturity level, many more students in high schools today are able to comprehend and interpret ideas presented in all kinds of literature. Critics seem to be swayed by the popular opinion that being GLBT is all about sex, when in fact most of what is written by GLBT authors doesn’t focus on sex at all; most of these works deal with themes and issues that are dealt with in the GLBT community. The identity conflict that presents itself after seeing the popular opinion versus the reality of it is what makes the teaching of GLBT literature so difficult for the most part. It has nothing to do with the sexual nature of it at all; the identity issue is the bigger problem. Brueggemann furthers this argument by stating thatShow MoreRelatedThe Use of Literature in Teaching English as a Foreign Language6056 Words   |  25 PagesThe Use of Literature in Teaching English as a Foreign Language By: Amr Alhemiary Abstract This research aims at emphasizing the use of literature as a popular technique for teaching both basic language skills (i.e. reading, writing, speaking and listening)and language areas(i.e. vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation) in our times. Reasons for using literary text in a foreign language classroom, suitable situations for teaching literature and main criteria for selecting suitable literary textsRead MoreFactors Affecting Literature Teaching and Learning in Secondary Schools in Uganda19646 Words   |  79 Pages An Assessment of the Factors Affecting the Quality of Literature in English Teaching and Learning in Secondary Schools in Uganda: A case study of Entebbe Municipality, Wakiso District A Research Dissertation Submitted in partial fulfilment for the Award of the Bachelors Degree in Education of Uganda Martyrs University-Nkozi July 2012 DECLARATION I, HENRY NSUBUGA, do declare that this is my original work, save for the various works I consulted, whose authors I have fullyRead MoreCurrent Issues in Teaching Literature1874 Words   |  8 PagesThe article that I have chosen is entitled ‘Teaching Literature through Language: Some Consideration’ by Abraham Panavelil Abraham (Ph D) who is an English Professor at University of Nizwa, Oman. 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There is a common notion in teaching that, because the instructor is the expert in the room, it his/her job to take the lead role in guiding students through the material. Instructors with this traditional view would argue that because students are novices, active engagement techniques where students are â€Å"teaching† each other could only lead to an increase in confusion about the concepts. In addition to serving as theRead MoreI Am A Second Grade English Language Arts Teacher931 Words   |  4 Pagesguided reading in my classroom. I have spent this summer researching and reading about guided reading in an attempt to gain further understanding of the process and the outcomes before the next school year begins. Guided reading is a method of teaching reading that be used with every reader, whether they are just beginning to read, struggling to read, or are able to read independently (Iaquinta, 2006). 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