Since I began teaching literature I have found many wonderful ways of enjoying myself as a teacher by sharing the pleasures and wonders of literature with my students. Approaching literature in the right ways opens whole new worlds, experiences and pleasures to the students. In the faces of many the newfound joy is obvious and the zest for more becomes apparent.

I'd like to use this forum for us to talk about the many exciting ways through which we can approach teaching literature.

And also for those who have tried and tried only to feel like failures in the classroom, tell us what you tried, what happened and how you feel. Maybe we can collectively offer you various suggestions to keep plugging away.

Hi everyone,
Teaching literature is exciting!!You can become a king,a queen,a prince,a princess or whatever you wish upon through literature.We can act in a play.We can write it through our greatest and wildest imagination.We can indulge through the characters that we immersed in.Literature is great!!You can be in somewhere else without even stepping on a plane or making long distance journey.Today,you maybe in London during the shakespearan period and tomorrow you maybe in Africa with 'Chinua Achebe'.All you need is your eagerness to read,to understand,involve and participate in the world of literature.
"WORDS SHOULD BE AN INTENSE PLEASURE JUST AS LEATHER IS TO A SHOEMAKER" (Evelyn Waugh,British novelist,1903-1966)

Thank you ,redgarfield (A98283)

----------------
redgarfield (A98283)

hi everyone,

I'm totally agree that teaching literature is exciting, interesting and fun, but however, sometimes i feel that it's only teachers who always feel excited when teaching literature and what about the students??they are totally not interested at all!!! but who we want to blame then??? is it teachers or students???

thank you

ikhwanhazzadidris

Hi Flipfold27,

Wow!!Your question makes me taken aback for a while.Its sound simple but you hit right to the jackpot.I can not resist myself than to reply and react to your question.I was left to ponder,to think hard and to look deeply if I was one of the teachers that you mentioned above.

But I really like your question.Its like a wake up call for me to be aware of the students' needs.It brought me back to my younger years as a student and to the present as a teacher.I am trying to understand both sides based on my experiences and perspectives.

Yeah,what you have said is right.Some teachers do enjoyed literature but pity not the students.And I prayed hard that I would not be one of the teachers.I wish my students and I can both feel and share the feeling of love towards literature.

Now,I do not think blaming each others would be the best answer and solution.From my view,both parties should play their roles wisely.Teachers should be pro active,up dated with latest knowledge and technologies.For example,nowadays we can watch a lot of story and novels on vcd,cd compared those years where videos are the main gadget.They should always geared up their knowledge through internet websites,forums like we have here where we can exchange ideas and opinions,courses etc.

But,students also should bear in their mind of their responsbility in absorbing the knowledge and ideas given by their teacher.They should instil the positive thinking towards literature.Literature is fun.If Helen Keller who is blind and deaf can learnt languages, then why can't we?.A challenge that we dare to take will take us to a place that we may never imagine.And that we can gained through many and one of it is literature.

Students can be expose to a lot of workshop such as being held by one of the leading english newspaper in Malaysia that is News Straits Times.I saw a lot of workshops regarding literature have been held and promoted to students.What I heard and saw is that they enjoyed literature.

So,what we need here is the right 'click' to literature.It might sound cliche but 'where there is a will,there is a way'.

'I had the blues because I had no shoes.Until,upon the street, I saw a man who had no feet.'

So,teachers and students should not have the blues but instead high spirit,motivation and initiatives towards liking and falling in love with literature.

Thank you.

----------------
redgarfield (A98283)

dear teacher,
to love something can be done theoritically and practically.I am sure there are ways to deal in theory, however,in actual learning enviroment, majority of the lit learners are learning lit as it is in the syllabus, or the fact is, they do it for the examination purpose,do they really know the pleasure of exploring into the literature world?When we are happily lead our learners into learning literature,have we put into equal consideration upon what the learners actually want in the learning? As the way to deal with can be different when the goal sway, do you agree?

Dear Juen,

I believe there are many teachers and students who are out there really appreciate and love literature eventhough literature subject is usually being label as dull and bored.

I am sure those teachers who are very dedicated with their responsbilities would not consider teaching literature as more to a 'paper chase' but instead to instil and mould a well balanced human development through literature. There are a lot that can be convey,teach and gain from literature. Its a part about life and reality.

Literature helps us to be a better person by appreciating others believes, traditions, values etc.

It is the job of both parties, teachers and students to appreciate the value of literature in their life. Yes, mostly 'paper chase' aim will be put up on question as most teachers and students are aiming for it.

But, we should also bear in our mind that there are good teachers and students out there who really loves and appreciate literature. This can be seen from our national writers and poets who have received international awards and published good works. Where do they come from? Of course, from good teachers and inner self motivation,interest,etc.

Success would not come rolling to your lap. Success comes when you chase it. But it will roll away, if you do not appreciate it. So does literature. Its a part of our lives.

I believe there are many good teachers and students out there who does not believe in only 'paper chase' when studying it but the 'values' of the knowledge itself.

'DO NOT SAVE YOUR LOVING SPEECHES,
FOR YOUR FRIENDS TILL THEY ARE DEAD,
DO NOT WRITE THEM ON THEIR TOMBSTONES,
SPEAK TO THEM ALL NOW INSTEAD.'
(Anna Cummins)

Thats how we should appreciate it.
Thank You.

----------------
redgarfield (A98283)

hi,it is me again.
I do agree to lead our learners to love literature as we all can see how lit can touch the soul with the finest language and inspiration weaved in between the line, what is bothering me:for our young learners who only aim to achieve just good grade in English, how do we as a teacher to make them see the fun in learning lit,how to teach them to appreciate lit?
The fun in learning lit depands on how the lit lesson is being conducted, and how our learners accept it.I often see learners only memorised synopsis and the main characters....just that.PLS accept it that this is happening in reality.
How do we find the centre point to this conflict?
How do we lead our learners to do well in answering lit question in the exam, and at the same time alert them with the fun in learning lit.
I believe when learners scored well, they will like the learning,and then lead on to love lit.
I shall invite all teachers to share with me strategies to accomplish this "dwi-goals " mission, especially to my learners in rural areas ..........how exciting it is in teaching and learning?what obstacles faced and solution to it

Hi Juen,

Of course learning and teaching literature is challenging.Especially when the students looked so blur and lost in the literature world. Sometimes not only them who are scratching their head wildly, even trainees and teachers are not so confidenced and familiar with the writers/authors.

I have encountered this experience myself during college time when I was excitingly talking about Shakespeare to a friend. Only later to realise that she did not know who that guy is!!Now, its not the person matters here, but that is the fact of how literature perception here.

We still have a long way to go.A long and hard way.I wish successfulness can pop up in a night.But the fact is not. So,whatever it is, we, teachers are still here.We have each other to rely on. So, lets do our best.

Sometimes, an excellent student with straight A's does not present a better person. So, let us ponder, a better person of straight A's student or otherwise.

'A POEM IS A MIRROR WALKING DOWN A STRANGE STREET' (E.E.Cummings)
Thank you.

----------------
redgarfield (A98283)

“students also should bear in their mind of their responsbility in absorbing the knowledge and ideas given by their teacher”

I have some opinion on this, yes for us teaching literature is fun and exciting, but bare it in mind, what kind of student we are handling with. Yet most percentage of students in school does not like literature because what theirs teachers do in class has affected their mood of learning. In other hand, some students especially in rural, have difficulty just to understand what literature is all about. What I’m trying to say here is, teachers have to play better with students, make sure they know the beauty of literature as much as we did.

Dear AhmadHaniff,

That quote sound familiar.

Yes,I definitely agree with you. Coincidently, I just finished attending a literature class this morning.The lecture was really aspiring. My lecturer taught me on how to be creative in teaching literature. How to tackle the students in a creative way where we are free to roam in the literature world as long as we know what we are dealing on with.

He even stressed on the importance of appreciating our students as individual who can come out with creative ideas, opinion etc. Only by appreciating and respect others (students,colleagues etc) opinions, views etc, learning literature will be more exciting.

Among the things that he instil in us of why teach literary texts is that it should be a pleasure for both parties(teacher and students). I like the way it sound,pleasure. Something nice and soothing. I hope I will manage to become among one of the good dedicated teachers out there.

'A LOT OF HAPPINESS IS OVERLOOKED BECAUSE IT DOESN'T COST ANYTHING'
(Anonymous)

Thank you.

----------------
redgarfield (A98283)