The Cultural Model of Teaching English through Literature
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This paper discusses the cultural model of teaching English through literature, its relevance in language learning, and how to integrate the model in teaching literary texts. It also explores the critiques against the model and the activities employed in its implementation.
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1 The Cultural Model of Teaching English through Literature Student Name Institution
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2 Executive Summary Literature scholars and researcher are having endless debates regarding English as an instrument to effective teaching. In this paper, a description of the cultural model will be done on a great detail. Also, relevance of the English cultural model as evidenced in literature and literary texts will be done. Further, the approaches of integrating a cultural model in the teaching of literary works and texts will be explained in great detail. Additionally, the critiques of the literary text cultural model will be done. The activities used in putting this model into practice will be also highlighted as well as the rationale behind the discussed and used activities.
3 Table of Contents Executive Summary.....................................................................................................................................2 Introduction.................................................................................................................................................4 Definition of the Cultural Model..................................................................................................................5 Relevance of the Cultural Model as evident in literary texts.......................................................................5 How to integrate the Model in teaching of Literary Texts...........................................................................7 The Critics labeled against the Cultural Model............................................................................................8 The Activities employed while using this model..........................................................................................9 Rationale of creating the above activities................................................................................................9 Lesson Plan................................................................................................................................................10 Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................11 References.................................................................................................................................................12
4 Introduction Literature is instrumental in teaching of language. Many people learn English as Second Language (ESL) while others learn it as Foreign Language (EFL). Literature provides a good avenue for learning English for both parties involved. Literature helps one to understand cultures in the correct manner. The authors of literary art manipulate language to pass the information to the readers and also to the learners. Many critics have come out strongly to argue the value of Literature in teaching of English language. English learners who are lovers of Literature come in contact with the language hence are able to learn various styles of communication from other people. Literary work is not just written like any other work. The authors employ aesthetics that make the work perform a dual purpose of passing information to the readers while at the same time entertaining them for sweet memories. The beauty inherent in the literary work makes the readers memorize the content and even apply the same in their daily communication thus improving their language competence. This paper sets out to discuss the Cultural Model of teaching language through Literature advanced by Long and Carter. (Collie & Slater, 2017, p. 6)
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5 Definition of the Cultural Model This model emanates from the word “culture” which means the people’s way of life encompassing their belief system, the challenges they face their interaction with the environment, and their value system. Culture is what all communities really on. Every community has its own culture which guides each and every one. Culture is knowledge and characteristics that may include religion, people, habits, music, and art. Its proponents propound that Literature is one of the most valuable means of attaining cultural insights. Culture is the center for advance the research on acquisition of languages as it is a shared behavior pattern for interactions and understanding for sociology. Culture also includes, food, how we wear, religion, what to wear, music, and languages, what you believe is wrong, how to greet visitors, how to behave with the loved ones among many others.The authors of literary work write to express their experiences in the society they come from. They communicate through literary work and not by any other language. Literature being the reflection of the society helps to communicate the aspects inherent in the society and the people involved in it. Literature becomes a product of the culture of a particular society (Carter, R. & Long, M.N). Culture model is organization molars of knowledge. Relevance of the Cultural Model as evident in literary texts Literature can be seen as a product of historical and social happenings of the community. It may be used to remind people how those lived before them used to leave. It also helps in knowing what you are supposed to say and what you are not supposed to. Social aspects such as taboos, initiation rites, norms, and societal expectations are always communicated through Literature. For instance, the book “The River Between” by Ngugi wa Thiong’o expounds the social aspects of the Agikuyu community where the writer comes from. The prolific Kenyan writer expounds
6 the circumcision as an initiation rite in the Agikuyu culture. He employs vivid description to provide an imagery of the scene. He describes the dancing steps in the eve of the ceremony, women grafting their waists and the freewill that exists during that time that young men can easily mix with the older women and dance holding their waists. Similarly, Chinua Achebe, in his literary work successfully brings out the social aspects. In “Things Fall Apart” he brings out a society that cherishes polygamy. Okonkwo, the chief protagonist, has many wives. The society in Achebe’s country embraced and highly esteems polygamy. The more the wives a man had the more respectful he was and he was termed to be too rich by the whole community. Political aspects tend to dominate the work of art as they are integral to human survival. Before the advent of colonialism in Chinua’s time, the society was led by a political leader called “Ezeulu.” Marx and Althuser shed light to the understanding of the literary work. To them, a society is divided into different social groups that are in constant antagonism. The two groups are the bourgeois and the proletariat. The former are the leading while the latter are the led. The leading are responsible for the predicaments of the led. The led therefore team up to fight the leading. Literary works examine the historical aspects of the community. History deals with both the time and space. The reader of any literary work is able to recognize the time in history when the work was written. Literary work during the pre-colonial period is different from the literary work written during the colonial period. In colonial period, the writers wrote bringing out the suffering and dehumanizing experiences they went through. Ngugi wa Thiong’o in his novel “A Grain of Wheat” expounds the experiences of the Kenyans during the colonial period. Many poems that were written during this period expressed their dissatisfaction with the colonial masters. Also, the piece of work of the slavery period expressed the suffering of the slaves. They were packed like simsim sacks and transported like goods to the slave masters. They auctioned like goods.
7 Therefore, the literature is inseparable from the culture of any society. What it all involves is culture of any society or community for it be called a literature. I can argue that writers write for the society. The cultural model is very crucial in the teaching of Literature. How to integrate the Model in teaching of Literary Texts The Cultural model advocates for the exploration of the writer’s biography before embarking on the reading of the literary text. The teacher should therefore start by examining the biography thus getting important insights that will aid in better understanding of the literary work. The writer’s place of birth (country) and the experiences he went through hint to the culture there. It is also crucial to get to know the political situation of the writer in order to draw the meaning of the text since writers write in response to the political and social injustices inherent in the society. There is need to examine the social, political and historical background of the text so as to examine it’s literally texts (Lazar, 1991, p. 98). There is also need to examine the Literary Movement that author subscribes to in the text. Some authors belong to the Neocolonial Movement and thus address the situation about neocolonialism itself. Realists address the aspects of culture as they exist and thus aid the students know the meaning of his work which he has done The teacher plays a crucial role in transmitting the information to the learners and making them to understand the information fully as per the requirements . The information includes shedding light on the Literary Movement and explaining to them since most of them may not understand the information as it is not easy to get. The teacher also captures the information that is missing in the Biography and brings to the attention of the learners as well.
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8 The Critics labeled against the Cultural Model Many critics have critiqued this Model and rubbished its assertions. The model is said to be very traditional and based on the fact that all writers write about the culture and culture only. Writers help learners to understand different cultures and what is expected is what they provide in full information(Duff, 1990, p. 104).Critics argue that there are writers that write about multicultural issues since they are in diaspora. The Model does not pay attention to the dynamic nature of societies. This is because those societies no body is able to tell anything good about them and they tend to be ignored without the knowledge that they have the perfect information require for the review. Also there are other communities where the they are too far to be noticed and they also have perfect cultures. The Model is said to be teacher-centered and therefore denies the learners the opportunity to use their own knowledge to interpret the literary text(C & Carter, 1984, p. 84).This is not right as everyone has his or her own understanding over the literally texts. Some critics advocate for the close reading of the text. This approach does not pay attention to the biography of the author. It rubbishes the need to pay attention to the social, political aspects of the author. Other critics argue that the meaning of the text exists within it and not paying attention to the things outside the text. The text is a whole entity which should be studied as it is to get the meaning. But some texts have context information and others have unbeneficial information. It is good to look at different articles and look which article provides the correct information. Other critics argue that readers bring with them their experiences to give meaning to the literary text. The same text has different meaning to different people
9 The Model focuses on the content only yet the content and form are inseparable entities. The style and language employed in the text is crucial in the interpretation of the text. Thus models are supposed to look at correct entities to avoid irrelevant information. The Activities employed while using this model The teacher needs to lecture to the students Explanation of various concepts is very crucial to foster understanding of the learners The learners should also read the notes and the criticisms provided in the text and by the teacher. Rationale of creating the above activities Lecture helps the teacher introduce the literary text to the learners and helping them understand important background of the writer. Understanding well the cultures is the sweetness of the linguistics(Hall, 2005, p. 653).Without these basics no writer can survive on his or her profession. This activity is very important in making the students understand the time in history when the text was written. There is a high probability that the learners are not cognizant with the events that were taking place by that time. Lecture activities bring the learners on one page and thus better understanding of the text. Explanation is very important in this model and helps one to understand each and every step. The dynamic nature of culture necessitates this activity in the teaching and learning of literary text. Explanation of vocabulary helps to foster understanding. Reading enables the students to get the concepts right without any astray information. Students have such an advantage that they are able to consult teachers as they are near. The notes in the work book and the background of the author give the students important information thus
10 making them better understand the text. The teacher will also give detailed notes that the students will be required to read in order to understand the literary text. Listening to the lecture is not enough; reading completes the process of learning.(Collie, 1987, p. 48) Lesson Plan StageTeacher’s activityLearner’s ActivityTime Pre-reading activity 1Teacher introduces the text by giving a short lecture related to the information to be read Learners listen attentively to the teacher’s explanation 5 minutes ReadingThe teacher guides the learner in reading the text The student reads intensively and fluently 40 Minutes Post-reading 1Teacher explains important information by summarizing the read section of the literary text and the vocabulary Learner listens attentively and takes notes on the vocabulary 5 Minutes Post-reading activity 2The teacher asks the learner oral questions And then summarizes the content The learner attempts to answer the asked questions correctly The learner listens to 5 Minutes
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11 the summary of the content Post-reading Activity 3 The learner writes down the assignment 5 Minutes Conclusion In conclusion, literature is instrumental in the teaching and learning of English language. Most people in the world study English as a second language, and this helps them in understanding other subjects clearly as well as furthering their education. While some people consider English as a foreign language, they still value it as vital in education. Without literature, English will be unnecessary to learners. Lovers of English have advanced and written various literary works in the form of novels and plays to discuss the merging issues in the modern society such as crime, politics and governance, corruption, crime and immorality, family issues, and many other topics. In these literary works, culture is the most important aspect to consider, as people come from diverse cultures that hold strong beliefs, norms, attitudes, and behavior. Therefore, literature should be taught and observed as the key builder of English as a subject and a language that all people value in day to day activities. References
12 Co, B., & Carter. (1984).literature and languege.Oxford: OUP,P.48. Collie, S. (1987).Literature and language classroom.Cambridge: CUP,48. Duff, M. A. (1990).literature and languege teaching.CUP: Oxford, 104. Fowler, R. (1996).lingustic crytism.Oxford: CPU, 481 Hall, G. (2005).Literature and languege education.London: Palgrave,653 Hanauer. (2001).focus on cultural understanding.Oxford: CPU,P.897 Lazar, G. (1991).Literature .CUP: Oxford,P.95