but...if humans "tend to change according to time sequence" as you have said, what is the relevance of teaching our students to prepare for the future? does literature not have a "universal" and ahistorical appeal?

eheh...... literature does have `universal' and `historical appeal',I think....Lots of novels,short stories and poems are related to current issues though they may be written hundreds of years ago.Oedipus for instance,brought up the issues of illegitimacy and adulterous and it's consequences and still it relevance to our modern society.....

or "the folly of making wrong decisions" as presented through King Lear, "thou shalt not kill" as in Hamlet;
etc etc etc

Hi, right now i'm studying TESL minor in literature. For me literature is quite new. All of sudden i've been introduced to the world of literature in my studies. Learning about others' cultures and customs, social issues etc open my mind widely. it actually reflects into our lives and how we can make best use of the information conveyed by the writers. But there's one question that keep occuring on my mind, if i can understand and comprehend the message conveyed by the writer in my own way how can i teach my students the art of literature in the best way (off course they too have their own ways to comprehend things..)? Can anyone help.....

It is necessary to study literature as it teaches us to be more human. It also promotes critical thinking abilities. A lot of assumptions and connotations will be read in each line of the text. The mastery of English Language will be further enhanced by being able to function pragmatically in a complex society as the texts in literature studies concern real, genuine incidents which happen in our everyday lives. It is also a perfect tool to be used in pruning our students to be an intellectually and emotionally -balanced person just as mentioned in the educational philosophy. I think these are prominent reasons for teaching and studying literature. (sarimah)

I’m not quite into teaching Literature yet. I feel that I need a lot more input to be confident enough to teach. But I do know that I enjoy learning the subject. It really opens a new window to me. In the last two years of so, I have discovered a green field full of interesting things to be learnt. It doesn’t only tell the story of dead people but also things that are going on around us. Literature is real.

The role of a teacher has changed whereby he or she is no longer the sole authority imparting information about the text or presenting the text as an object. That is why I believed there is no 'one best way' to teach literature to students in learning literature since literature is considered a very important source. It gives an abundance of rich prose and verse which could upgrade the students proficiency level of the language and increased their awareness and understanding of the Malaysian, British, American and other cultures. Hence, students can be trained to be competent readers as well. Any comments?

and what are those "interesting things" that you have learnt?

I have not prepared myself into teaching Literature too. Once, I was told by a lecturer that in order to like Literature, a reader must create an interest in his or her mind to love Literature. It is easier said than done! Perhaps, azlinidris can share with us her discovery of a green field full of interesting things to be learnt. For there are many people who wanted to know more about teaching or studying literature. I don't think I am the only one who wants to know. Anybody who wants to know, please respond to azlinidris.

Hi,chee seng....I would like to respond to your questions... talking about literature is actually talking about life and its facts!! Don't blame or underestimate the 'poor' students.Their role are learning and as teacher we must play our role as educator,organiser,feedback organiser,assesser and facilitator.
We must use various techniques and approaches to deal with them without taking into account whether they are advanced or low level students. We are the one (as teacher) to create the condusive situation and mole them in a way to be better in Literature.
Actually it is easier said than done...but that is the reality that we have to face...TQ.

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needa