Chap 1: English Literature in the Classroom

Curriculum Analysis: Primary school

Focusing on:

1. Basic Literary Skills through;

• storytelling

• drama

• poetry

• creative works

Aims to enhance:

1. understanding

2. personal response

3. creative engagement

Curriculum Analysis: Secondary School

1. Integrated into English Classes

2. contributed 20% national exams

• PMR

• PT3

• SPM

3. Offered as standalone elective subject for:

• deeper engagement and aesthetic

• imaginative

• intellectual growth

4. Text selection

• mix of local & foreign works

• balancing cultural relevance and global exposure

Issues and Challenges

1. Text Selection

• dominance of foreign literary traditions (British & American)

• not resonate culturally with Malaysian students

2. Efforts to incorporate local works remain limited

Recommendations

1. balance between local & foreign texts

• reflect Malaysia’s multicultural heritage.

• preserve global exposure

2. create multi-racial literary culture

• represent various MalaysianCultures

• promote national unity

3. align literature with modern challenges (literature should address)

• globalization

• social issues

• political realities

• cultural changes

reconceptualisation of Teaching Literature

1. promote cultural awareness

2. preserve heritage

3. strengthen national identity

4. support nation-building

Importance of reconceptualization of literature

literature can act:

1. unifying force

2. cultural bridge

3. means of developing social understanding

Successful implementation requires:

1. planning

2. effective execution

3. clear educational policies

Literature in Action: definition

1. Literature Component of the English curriculum

Genres used Lia

1. Poetry

2. Drama

3. Short Stories

4. Graphic Novels

5. Novel

Purposes of LiA

1. developed reading habits

2. improve thinking skills

3. encourage creativity

4. promote active participation

5. increase self-expression

Aims of LiA

1. Part of the Malaysia English Curriculum in 2017

2. LEARNING ENVIRONMENT; non-judgemental environment to discuss:

• money

• society

• personal growth

3. ACTIVE LEARNING;

• acting

• poetry recitation

• creative responses

• story enactments

Skills developed

1. critical thinking

2. teamwork

3. confidence

4. communication skills

5. real world connection:

• relationships

• cultural understanding

• emotional experiences

Teachers are responsible for

1. prepare materials

2. designing activity

3. meeting learning objectives

4. using designated literature components

literature then and now

Then

• used to improve language proficiency

Now

• moral values

• critical thinking

• develop creativity

• encourage personal growth