Choosing a Book
Choosing the right book may be the most difficult, and most important, part of teaching literature. In a study of the increasing popularity of using literature in the second language classroom, Radhika O'Sullivan (1991, Selecting Literature section, para. 1) observed that, "It is all very well to point out the advantages of teaching literature but the key to success in using literature in the ESL classroom depends primarily on the works selected." If the selection is too easy, students will feel bored and you will have difficulty designing enough activities. If the selection is too difficult, students will feel frustrated and you will be overwhelmed. The following guidelines may help you narrow down the field of choices.
When evaluating potential books, look at:
The length and complexity of the story. Simple, short stories with repetitive language work best for young EFL learners.
Does the book look overwhelming? Type that is too small, or too many words on a page, can intimidate young students.
The level of vocabulary. How much of it will be review for your students? If students know less than 75% - 80% of the vocabulary, they may lose confidence in their ability to understand the story.
Illustrations should be interesting and should help students understand both the vocabulary and the story.
Finally, select a book that you think you will enjoy. It will be difficult to convince students to be enthusiastic about a story you don't like.
A selection of recommended titles is provided in the Appendix.