Teaching English through literature: Creative approaches for secondary English teachers
Course Overview
This 25-hour course is designed for secondary school teachers of English who wish to integrate literature more effectively into their classroom practice. Through interactive online workshops and guided self-study, participants will explore practical approaches to using different genres—novels, short stories, poetry, graphic novels and picturebooks—to develop students’ language competence, cultural awareness and creativity.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will:
- Understand the value of literature in the secondary EFL classroom and its links to curricular aims.
- Be able to select, adapt, and exploit literary texts appropriate to their students’ age and language level.
- Design activities that integrate linguistic, cultural and emotional learning.
- Apply creative methodologies to motivate diverse learners and support different abilities.
- Use literature to promote intercultural awareness, empathy, and critical thinking.
- Design assessment and reflection tools for literature-based learning.
Course Success Criteria
Successful participants will:
- Attend and participate actively in at least 85% of synchronous sessions.
- Complete all asynchronous readings, tasks, and reflections.
- Demonstrate understanding through contributions in workshops and online discussions.
- Submit a final literature-based lesson plan or mini-unit showing integration of course principles.
- Engage in reflective dialogue and peer feedback.
Module 1: Using literature in the EFL classroom: principles and text selection
- Approaches to using literature with the EFL learner.
- Linking literature to the curriculum.
Module 2: Teaching Novels & Short Stories – Approaches and Strategies
- Criteria for selection.
- Anticipating problems and challenges.
Module 3: Teaching poetry: Developing language, sound awareness and creative response – 3 hours
- Criteria for selection.
- Anticipating problems and challenges.
Module 4: Working with graphic novels and visual narratives – 3 hours
- Visual texts in secondary classrooms
- Graphic novels’ impact on reluctant readers and EFL learners
Module 5: Using story books and picture books – 3 hours
- Teaching strategies for picturebooks.
- Ecopicturebooks: features, selection criteria and practical suggestions.
Module 6: Differentiation and multi-genre units in practice – 3 hours
- Supporting struggling readers without lowering expectations
- Challenging advanced readers
