Tema 4.
Programación en el aula de
infantil. Desarrollo de materiales para
la enseñanza de una lengua extranjera
en Educación Infantil
Sesión: El papel de la literatura en el currículum de lengua extranjera.
Bojana Tulimirovic
• Which was your favorite
book of fiction and the
most rewarding reading
experience as a child and
as an adolescent?
• What is your favorite
text in English now?
• Why do you read
literature, why not?
What is literature?
How would you define it?
What is literature?
Etymologically, literature comes from Latin littera which means
“letter”. It evolved into litteratura which means “writing formed
with letters”.
According to Cambridge Dictionary, literature is “written artistic
works, especially those with a high and lasting artistic value”.
It represents a form of human expression.
“Food for the soul”.
Children’s literature
Children’s literature is literature aimed at children including those
texts that are appropriate for children even though they were originally
written for adults.
It also includes books written by children.
In English:
a) Robinson Crusoe (1917) by Daniel Defoe
b) Gulliver’s Travels (1726) by Jonathan Swift
c) Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (AKA Alice in Wonderland) (1865)
by Lewis Carroll
Literature in a broader sense
comic books
slogans,
tongue twisters,
word games,
etc.
Why using literature in the classroom? (1)
Storybooks and storytelling … as a way to create an acquisition rich
environment and ideal learning conditions which provide
comprehensible input, or language a little beyond the child’s current
level of competence (Krashen 1981: 103)
“Storybooks can provide an ideal introduction to the foreign
language as it is presented in a context that is familiar to the child”
(e.g. Once upon a time…) (Brewster, Ellis, 2002: 186)
Why using literature in the classroom? (2)
(Brewster, Ellis, 2002)
Stories are motivating, fun and challenging. They create a positive
environment and attitude.
Children become personally involved in the story (e.g. magic bike).
It links fantasy and imagination to the child’s real world.
They treat “real topics” set in a children’s environment.
Listening to stories in class is a social experience. There is shared
experience of laughter, sadness, excitement, etc.
Why using literature in the classroom? (3)
(Brewster, Ellis, 2002)
It allows teachers to introduce vocabulary and other contents that
need to be taught in class. Also, is can be done in a controlled way,
focusing on specific aspect.
Repetition of a target language: “I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow
your house down. And he huffed and he puffed and he huffed and he
puffed and he blew down the house made of wood” (The Three
Little Pigs).
It provides cultural and intercultural information and opportunity for
comparison.
Why using literature in the classroom? (4)
(Brewster, Ellis, 2002)
It develops literary competence.
It develops children’s learning strategies: listening for general
meaning, predicting, guessing meaning, hypothesising, etc.
It can link English as a L2 with other subjects across the curriculum.
It is a good opportunity for teachers to be “different”: to act, to
improvise, to play.
Etc.
We shouldn’t teach great books; we
should teach a love of reading.
B.F. Skinner
Selection criteria:
Texts should….
be manageable (length, difficulty of vocabulary, topic, structure, etc.)
be interesting and engaging
be comparable to learners’ lives and cultures
offer insights into other cultures
have with simple structures
have with positive values (positive aspects of human nature-resourceful,
humorous)
motivate active and creative work.
How to create linguistic activities based on a
story:
It is very important to plan activities for pre-, during and post-.
There are numerous activities we can do in class once we have
chosen the book/story we will be working with.
Take a look at the document (Actividades de lectura en clase,
ejemplos)
Storytelling (Karrie Korroch):
Important to take into account:
Voice (the most important tool)
Content (what the story is about)
Don’t memorise (act, improvise, have fun)
Audience
Preparation
Most importantly: enjoy while doing it.
Let’s take a look
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8vQbXFrVP4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q10UgcjGAyE
http://drjeanandfriends.blogspot.com/
A brief introduction into
English literature for children
CHRISTMAS CAROL
Charles Dickens
ALICE´S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND
LEWIS CARROLL
THE MERRY ADVENTURES OF ROBIN
HOOD HOWARD PYLE
SHERLOCK HOLMES
ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
THE JUNGLE BOOK
RUDYARD KIPLING
PETER PAN
JAMES BARRIE
THE TALE OF JOHNNY TOWN MOUSE
BEATRIX POTTER
THE STORY OF DOCTOR DOLITTE
HUGH LOFTING
STUART LITTLE
E.B. WHITE
THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE
WARDROBE C.S. LEWIS:
MATILDA
ROALD DAHL
HARRY POTTER
J.K. ROWLING
