An Investigation of Iraqi EFL Teachers' Attitudes Toward Teaching English Literature: A Case of Fourth Preparatory Teachers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25130/Lang.9.2.17Keywords:
attitude, Iraqi EFL teachers, preparatory schools, teaching Literature.Abstract
This study aims to investigate the attitude of Iraqi EFL teachers towards the teaching of literature at selected preparatory schools in Karbala, Iraq. Participants in this study are ten preparatory EFL teachers. Using semi-structured interviews as research instruments to collect the information on the phenomenon being studied. A qualitative analysis is performed on the gathered data. The results showed that, first, Iraqi EFL teachers thought that literature is a useful tool for teaching languages. Second, Iraqi EFL teachers consider that literature provides linguistic, cultural, and social values. Third, Iraqi EFL teachers see literature written by native speakers as the best source for teaching languages; therefore, the local (Iraqi) literature has not been preferred to be used by them. Fourth, despite their obvious belief in literature as a useful tool in language teaching, Iraqi EFL teachers are still struggling to promote literature as a way of teaching English. The results also show that the sample of the current study had certain challenges. The first one concerned context issues, which included a lack of resources, technology, visual aids, and an ideal classroom atmosphere, while the second one concerned some teachers, who have a lack of confidence in teaching literature.
Therefore, it is advised to continue training EFL teachers to share information and experience between them and provide them the new methods and strategies they need to teach literature and to strengthen their self-confidence.
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