Thirteen reasons why: using novels for improving linguistic and crosscurricular aspects in the EFL classroom

Abstract

The study reported in this project attempted to evaluate the results of the implementation of a didactic unit based on the use of literature and audiovisual fragments in a class of English as a Foreign Language. This project, concerning an educational improvement, was implementing during my period of Practicum in a class of Batxiller. The main objective is to show that English can be taught using appropriate extracts of real material instead of following a text book, and, thus, to prove that, as many researchers point out, literature (and other materials obtained from it) can be a useful tool in an English class at both linguistic level just as the personal growth level. The data collection of the analysis of the implementation of this didactic unit will show the benefits of using real materials in class in terms of motivation, creativity, interest, communicative strategies as well as interaction, and, although limited in scope, the results of this teaching unit proves that the use of literature and audiovisual fragments are useful resources to learning a foreign language.