2020
DOI: 10.5539/elt.v13n3p8
|View full text |Cite
|
Sign up to set email alerts
|

Challenges to Studying English Literature by the Saudi Undergraduate EFL Students as Perceived by Instructors

Abstract: Studying English literature is interrelated to studying English as a foreign language (EFL), and thus incorporating literary texts into EFL learning curricula is important for providing EFL learners with the necessary language skills and emotional growth. However, EFL learners prefer to avoid studying English literature due to several challenges that may extend from difficulties inherited in literature itself to the learning and instructional processes. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating the reasons … Show more

Help me understand this report

Search citation statements

Order By: Relevance

Paper Sections

Select...
3
1
1

Citation Types

0
8
0

Year Published

2020
2020
2023
2023

Publication Types

Select...
5

Relationship

0
5

Authors

Journals

citations
Cited by 6 publications
(9 citation statements)
references
References 12 publications
0
8
0
Order By: Relevance
“…This is because language learners might not have the ability to interpret the texts from a specific cultural point of view, particularly if the culture is foreign to them. Alshammari, Ahmed, and Shouk (2020) argue that many EFL learners erroneously conceive that English literature contradicts their own culture, values, and beliefs. Added to this misconception, inappropriate cultural representation can also occur as ESL learners tend to interpret the meaning of the texts according to their own culture when dealing with unfamiliar cultural elements (Krishnasamy, 2015).…”
Section: Challenges In Learning Literaturementioning
confidence: 99%
See 2 more Smart Citations
“…This is because language learners might not have the ability to interpret the texts from a specific cultural point of view, particularly if the culture is foreign to them. Alshammari, Ahmed, and Shouk (2020) argue that many EFL learners erroneously conceive that English literature contradicts their own culture, values, and beliefs. Added to this misconception, inappropriate cultural representation can also occur as ESL learners tend to interpret the meaning of the texts according to their own culture when dealing with unfamiliar cultural elements (Krishnasamy, 2015).…”
Section: Challenges In Learning Literaturementioning
confidence: 99%
“…Krishnasamay (2015) and Violetta-Irene (2015) assert that when the selected texts and learners' language proficiency do not match, learners find the language of the texts to be challenging. Alshammari, Ahmed and Shouk (2020) reveal that their Saudi undergraduate respondents found studying English literature difficult because the texts were difficult. Furthermore, unfamiliar words, grammar and structures can obstruct learners' understanding of texts as discovered by Othman and associates (2015) in their study.…”
Section: Challenges In Learning Literaturementioning
confidence: 99%
See 1 more Smart Citation
“…Despite this, however, it does not give sufficient attention to the teaching of Western literature in Saudi EFL classrooms. Recent studies that address this issue (see Alshammari et al, 2020) tend to center on the challenges faced by educators and students rather than educators' attitudes. Such work typically investigates the reasons-as perceived by educators and instructors-why EFL students might be discouraged from studying English literature.…”
Section: Literature Reviewmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The hidden messages contained in literary texts and their relevance must be considered as a fundamental criterion in choosing an appropriate literary text for use in the second language classroom (Hişmanoğlu, 2005). Other problems include inappropriate text selection, learners' language anxiety, cultural misperceptions, and poor background knowledge (Alshammari et al, 2020;Zengin et al, 2019).…”
Section: Issues In the English Literature Classroommentioning
confidence: 99%