This study explores the perceptions of English language teachers of the use of literature in the context of
bilingual secondary education in the region of Madrid (Spain). An approach was adopted under which eighty-one English teacher
participants completed a questionnaire so that a quantitative methodological approach of a descriptive – correlational nature
could be adopted for this study. Results unveiled teacher perceptions of the benefits and drawbacks of using literary texts as a
teaching and learning tool, their selection of literary texts and their actual implementation of these texts in their English
classes, as well as the training needs for the effective use of literary texts as a language teaching and learning tool in the
bilingual EFL secondary classroom. The pedagogical implications of the study emphasize the need to redesign and consolidate
teacher training programmes containing literature and innovative teaching aspects both in initial teacher training programmes and
for continued training.