Building Teachers’ Positive Perspective Towards The Role Of Literature In Elt For Character Building

摘要

In English classrooms, teachers tend to teach language rather than literature. It is a fact that English teachers have to present both language and literature. It is also a reality that so far literature gets small portion in language education curriculum as depicted by Moody (1971). This tiny portion should challenge the teachers to teach literary work. In fact, most of them avoid teaching it due to their lack of literature knowledge. They assumed that literature is a subject of recitation in which students get enjoyment merely; besides, the subject cannot contribute to language enrichment. These assumptions are irrelevant to Moody’s statement that literature is very vital to teach since it is able to enrich students’ culture, personal involvement, and language skills. Culturally and personally involvement, literature does not only help the students develop cultural understanding of other cultures, but also develop their personality and tolerance.Indonesia has altered English curriculum for all levels of education. The previous curricula had become literature less popular as the functional use of language was focused. By re-assessing the importance of it, literature in terms of kinds of genre provides the students with abundant elements of language and so do language skills that can be explored from literary works. Genres of literary works facilitate them to practice the four language skills. The teaching of literature can be meaningful if it is presented side by side with the teaching of language.These rich insights have decorated many reference books with the glow of ornaments and have theoretically been antique things to collect. Many experts have confronted and criticized the existence and role of literature in ELT without significant solutions. They often highlighted traditional cases such as lack of facility and literary works as the causes of literature is being avoided by teachers to teach. Many have failed to attract teachers to teach literature aesthetically in classrooms though the established theories have often been put forward.This paper elaborates the role of literature in ELT in order that teachers eventually have positive perspective on it and initiate to teach literature side by side with language. Specifically, the literature’s role is discussed under the followings: (1) shifting the old paradigm: structuralism approach, (2) building learning orientation by stimulating cognitive, affective, and psychomotor aspects for character building, and (3) introducing the model of literature teaching where language and literature are intertwined to develop language skills and literary appreciation