Publication details
English for Specific Purposes: A Literary Approach
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2024 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Hradec Králové Journal of Anglophone Studies |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | https://pdf.uhk.cz/hkjas/past_issues.php |
| Keywords | English for Specific Purposes; methodology; ELT |
| Description | The relationship between literature and second language teaching is longer and more complex than it might look at first sight. Literature had a pervasive presence in the teaching of foreign languages over the last century, serving multiple purposes, and enjoying a position largely conditioned by geopolitical situations and power shifts in academic disciplines. Though literature seems to be virtually absent from the language classroom today, the current interest in creativity and critical thinking, defined as “21st century skills,” calls for a reconsideration and reevaluation of the role of literature in foreign language teaching. This article wants to answer the question if literary texts can be included into an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course. Given the long-lasting animosity between the sciences and the humanities, ESP, with its emphasis on specialized vocabulary and the students’ interests in science and technology, indeed seems to be predisposed against incorporating literary texts into course materials. Yet, this article will argue that the use of literature in ESP can be beneficial for the ESP teacher as well as for the students. Literature can have the potential to redirect students’ perspective, encouraging them to be more creative and playful, resulting in their making new connections across disciplines. |