The Use of Local Literary Texts as Reading Materials in English Language Classrooms: An Analysis of Teachers’ Perspectives

Muhammad Shahril Haja Mohaideen, Hanita Hanim Ismail, Radzuwan Ab Rashid

Abstract


It is common for Malaysian primary school pupils to have difficulties in reading English texts. One of its factors concerns text selection. Hence, a careful selection of the text is needed to ease their reading experience in ESL (English as Second Language) classrooms. This study explored teachers’ perceptions on literary text selection for Malaysian primary schools. An online questionnaire was distributed to gauge teachers’ perceptions on the current materials in terms of its impact on the students and lesson effectiveness. Respondents were 34 teachers of Years 4 to 6 in primary schools in Terengganu, the east coast Malaysia. Data analysis revealed that the teachers perceive local materials as more relatable to pupils in comparison to the foreign texts. The local texts are also perceived to have greater impacts on the students and lessons despite doubts remaining within the autonomy of this selection. This study is hoped to be helpful to the Ministry of Education and the teaching community in improving text selection in the future.

https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.19.11.8


Keywords


ESL; KSSR; literature; Malaysian primary school pupils; text selection

Full Text:

PDF

References


Abdullah, T. (2014). A New Teaching Model to Teach Literature for The TESL Pre-Training Service Programme in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. https://doi.org/10.13140

Ain, N. (2019). Call for comprehensive study into decline in English proficiency among students. New Straits Times. Retrieved from https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/05/489779/call-comprehensive-study-decline-english-proficiency-among-students-nsttv/2.1.3713.7286

Akyel, A. & Yalcin, E. (1990). “Literature in the EFL class: A study of goal-achievement incongruence.†ELT Journal 44(3), 174-180.

Aziz, H. (2018). “Malaysia drops 9 spots in English proficiency ranking for non-native speakers.†New Straits Times. Retrieved from https://www.nst.com.my/ education/2018/10/426949/malaysia-drops-9-spots-english-proficiency-ranking-non-native-speakers

Azman, H. (2016). “Implementation and Challenges of English language Education Reform in Malaysian Primary Schools.†3L: The Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies, 22(3), 65-78.

Bobkina, J., & Domingues, E. (2014). “The Use of Literature and Literary Texts in the EFL Classroom: Between Consensus and Controversy.†International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature,3(2), 248-260.

Bousbai, A. (2014). “Techniques for Selecting and Evaluating English Language Literary Texts.†Al-Athar, 19, 7-14.

Brewerton, P. & Millward, L. (2001). Organizational Research Methods. London: Sage.

Brumfit, C. (1985). Language and literature teaching: From practice to principle. Oxford: Pergamon Press.

Carlisle, A. (2000). “Reading logs: an application of reader-response theory in ELT.†ELT Journal, 54(1), 12-19.

Carter, R. (1988). “The integration of language and literature in the English curriculum: A narrative on narratives.†In Literature and language. Holden, S. (ed.). Oxford: Modern English Publications, 3-9.

Carter, R., & Long, M. (1991). Teaching literature. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Choudary, S. (2016). “A Literary Approach to Teaching English Language in a Multicultural Classroom.†Higher Learning Research Community, 6(4).

Clandfield, L. (2003). “Teaching Materials: Using Literature in the EFL/ESL Classroom.†The Internet TESL Journal, 10(12).

Ekafathe, XX (2014, March, 17). Language based approach. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/ekafathe/language-based-approach

Evans, J. R. & Mathur, A. (2005). “The Value of Online Surveys.†Internet Research 15(2), 195-219.

Ghazali, S.N., Setia, R., Muthusamy, C., & Jusoff, K. (2009). “ESL students’ attitude towards texts and teaching methods used in literature classes.†English language teaching, 2(4), 51-56.

Hassan, K. M. (2018). “Difficulties Facing English Teacher in Teaching Literary Texts at Higher Secondary Level in Bangladesh.†English Language and Literature Studies, 8(3), 15-26.

Hismanoglu, M. (2005). “Teaching English through Literature.†Journal of Language and Linguistics Studies, 1(10), 53-66.

Hazita, A. (2016). “Implementation and Challenges of English Language Education Reform in Malaysian Primary Schools.†3L: The Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies, 22(3), 65 – 78.

Ismail, H.H. (2019). “Literature and gender equality as national sustainable goals.†Trends in Social Sciences, 1(3), 16-24.

Kebede, G.A., & Milkitie, Y.M. (2018), “A Paranomic Students Evaluation of Literary Texts in Preparatory Students.†English Textbooks; Theory and Practise in Language Studies, 8(8), 996-1004.

Kaur, P. & Mahmoor, N. (2014). “Examining the role of the English literature component in the Malaysian English curriculum.†Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 134, 119-124.

Khan, M. S. R., & Alasman, A. M. (2018). “Literary Texts in the EFL Classrooms Applications. Benefits and Approaches.†International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 7(5), 167-179.

Laabidi, H., & Nfissi, A. (2016). “Fundamental Criteria for Effective Textbook Evaluation.†EFL Journal, 1(2), 141-159. http://dx.doi.org/10.21462/eflj.v1i2.13

Lazar, G. (1993). Literature and Language Teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Lim, J.W. (2018). “Localizing English literature as a school subject: A Malaysian experience.†Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 38, 151-163.

Lima, C. (2010). “Selecting Literary Texts for Language Learning.†Journal of NELTA, 15(1-2), pp.110-113.

Lucas, M. A. (1990). “Four Important Factors in Reading.†Forum, 28 (3), 26-30.

Malachi, E.V. (2003). “New Englishes New Literatures in English: Challenges for ELT Practitioners.†In Ganakumaran, S. (Ed.). Teaching Literature in ESL and EFL Contexts. 1-12. Petaling Jaya: Sasbadi.

Mat Husin, N.I.S., Nimehchisalem, V., & Kalajahi, S.A.R. (2015). “Developing A Checklist for Evaluation the Presentation of New Vocabulary in ELT Textbooks.†International Journal of Language Education and Applied Linguistics, 2, 27-38.

Ministry of Education Malaysia. (2010). Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025. Putrajaya: Bahagian Pembangunan Kurikulum

Mohd Naser, S.H., & Abd Aziz, A. Students’ Perceptions of the text selection in the Literature Component. National Pre-University Seminar, RHR Hotel.

Muhamad, S.N., Latiff Azmi, M.N., & Hassan, I. (2020). “Reading Interest and its relationship with reading performance: A study of English as second language learners in Malaysia.†Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews, 7(6), 1154-1161.

Mukundan, J. (2004). A Composite Framework for ESL Textbook Evaluation. Unpublished PhD Thesis. Universiti Putra Malaysia. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279648484

Mukundan, J. (2007). “Evaluation of English Language Textbooks: Some Important Issues for Consideration.†Journal of NELTA, 12(1&2), 80-84.

Mukundan, J., & Kalajahi, S. A. R., (2013). “Evaluation of Malaysia English Language Teaching Textbooks.†International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature, 1(1), 38-46.

Mustakim, S.S., Mustapha, R., & Lebar, O. (2014) “Teacher’s Approaches in Teaching Literature: Observation of ESL Classroom.†Malaysian Online Journal of Educational Science, 2(4), 35-44.

Mustakim, S. S., Lebar, O., Minghat, A. D. (2018). “Instructional Practices in the Teaching of Literature: What Matters?†International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 8(8), 205–219.

Nordin, R., & Lin, S.E. (2017). “Text-selection for teaching reading to ESL tertiary students: A study on genre and content preference.†International Journal of Instructions, 10(1), 71-84.

Omar, Y. (2017). “The Inclusion of Literature components in Malaysian English papers: The Challenges and Pros in Teaching and Learning.†Al-Ta’Lim’ Journal, 24(3), 174-186.

Othman, N. I., M. Shah, P., Karim, A. A., Yusof, A., Din, R., Ramli N. A., & Salleh, N. S. (2015). “Personalizing Learning of English Literature: Perceptions and Challenges.†Journal of Personalized Learning, 1(1), 104–112.

Peekabook. (2014). KSSR – Changes in Everything Old. Retrieved August 7, 2019, from https://peekabook.com.my/blog/kssr-changes-in-everything-old/

Puteh, M., Mohd Zin, Z., & Ismail, I. (2012). “Reading Performance of Malaysian Students across gender in PISA 2012.†3L: The Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies, 22(2), 109-121.

Radhi, N.A.M. (2019). “Call for comprehensive study into decline in English proficiency among students.†New Straits Times, Retrieved August 7, 2019. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/05/489779/call-comprehensive-study-decline-english-proficiency-among-students-nsttv

Ramlan, N.B. (2015). “Teaching Approaches Employed by Secondary School English Teachers when Teaching Literature component in English.†Prosiding Persidangan Antarabangsa Kelesterian Insan kali-2, 115-125.

Richards, J. C. & Rodgers, T. S. (1982). “Method: Approach, Design, and Procedure.†TESOL Quarterly, 16(2), 153-168.

Roopa, S. & Rani. M. S. (2012). “Questionnaire Designing for a Survey.†The Journal of Indian Orthodontic Society 46(4), 37-41

Saito, Y., Horwitz, E.K., & Garza, T.J. (1999). “Foreign Language Reading Anxiety.†The Modern Language Journal, 83(2), 202-218.

Shi, J. (2014). Criteria for Teaching / Learning Resource Selection: Facilitating Teachers of Chinese to work with English Speaking Learners. Unpublished MA research thesis, University of Western Sydney.

Sidhu, G.K., Chan, Y.F., & Kaur, S. (2014). “Instructional Practices in Teaching Literature: Observations of ESL Classrooms in Malaysia.†English Language Teaching, 3(2), 54-63. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v3n2p54

Sulaiman, T., Mohd Ayub, A.F., & Sulaiman, S. (2015). “Curriculum Change in English Language Curriculum Advocates Higher Order Thinking Skills and Standards-Based Assessment in Malaysian Primary Schools.†Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 6(2), pp.494-500.

Trochim, W. M. K. (2020). Research Methods Knowledge Base. Retrieved from https://conjointly.com/kb/descriptive-statistics/

Wellek, R., & Warren, A. (1948) Theory of Literature and Methodology of Literary Study. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company.

Zulaily, N., Aryati, A., Nor Saidah, A. M., Rahmah, M. A., Shahril, M. R., Sharifah, W. W. S. S., Tarek, W., Engku, F. H. S. A. & Amran, A. (2017). “Influence of School Location within Districts of Terengganu on Body Weight Status among School Adolescents.†International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 7(6), 1166-1178.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


e-ISSN: 1694-2116

p-ISSN: 1694-2493