Children's books by canonical authors in the EFL classroom

Abstract

Students’ imperfect grasp of the target language is cited by educators as one of the main tenets and conundrums against the use of real literature in the EFL classroom. However, previous reviews have proven that children and teenagers are likely to become interested in texts of their own choice and in line with their current concerns. Hence, since encouraging them to read for pleasure and providing them with motivating and level-appropriate materials are basic requirements for success, instructors should receive essential support on how to supply their students with literary texts suitable for both their language level and interests. My intention in this article is thus two-fold. On the one hand, I aim to provide several strategies to overcome the negative attitudes against the use of real literature in the EFL classroom, which are deeply rooted in the educational community, by equipping educators with a theoretical framework that allows them to critically select the most appropriate literary materials for their students. On the other hand, my intention is to present in-service teachers with an illustrative sample of texts and activities that clearly show that authentic literature can be successfully implemented in the teaching sphere.