Vol. 2,No. 2, February 2012

Author(s): Mohamad Khatib, Shokoufeh Ranjbar, Jalil Fat'hi

Abstract: Quite recently, there has been an accumulated body of beliefs and claims advocating the beneficial role of literature as a legitimate vehicle through which a foreign language can be taught. Though this argument seems to be alluring, it can be problematic and target of much criticism if an English as an International Language (EIL) perspective is adopted. This paper first elaborates on the advantages of employing literature in EFL classroom. Then it furthers to argue that from an EIL perspective the fact that literature is highly culturally loaded, can potentially pose a threat to the cultural integrity of the learners. The final argumentation is that if literature is aimed to be employed for teaching a foreign language, it should not be monocultural literature, but it should be in the form of multicultural and multinational literature, otherwise, becoming too preoccupied with monocultural literature, in this sense, will culminate into more linguistic imperialism, self-marginalization, self-alienation, cultural colonialization and hegemony.

JAAS's Papers Indexed in

International Association for Academians is an International institute with regional headquarters in Canada.

doaj CiteFactor journalseeker worldcat
Google Scholar Scribd The Linguist List ulrichsweb