The Impact of Teaching Literature on Students' Perception of Interculturality

Abstract

Literature is very important to the process of language learning. It plays a vital part in enriching students' vocabulary, their critical thinking, increasing their knowledge about the culture of the target language and developing their intercultural communication. Since the field of language teaching has started giving attention to promoting students’ intercultural competence, the literature classroom can be considered as the best tool for teaching and promoting intercultural competence to EFL learners. This study aims to investigate and explore the extent to which interculturality can affect the teaching of literature. To collect data and information needed for this subject, the research opted to use both quantitative and qualitative methods. A questionnaire is submitted to forty five (45) third year students at Abdelhafid Boussouf, Mila University Center and an interview is conducted with seven (07) Master Two students at the same university center. The obtained data were analyzed. The results of the data showed that most students benefited from literature to develop their intercultural awareness and many of them preferred including interculturality in the literature classroom. From the findings, it can be seen that students became capable of grading their level of intercultural awareness. The results of this study highlighted the positive effects of interculturality in the literature classroom on students.