Folktales and Philanthropy: Using Folktales as a Bridge to Community Service

Using folktales in an ESL/EFL classroom is not a new concept. Many teachers have found these ancient stories to be useful for language learning. In this paper I will explore some rationale for utilizing a student’s culture, folklore and folktales in particular in order to increase reading and writing skills, as well as other academic skills. In addition I will draw a correlation between folktales and philanthropy and show how folktales may be used as a bridge to community service task-based projects. This paper also contains materials for a Folklore and Philanthropy course that I developed for my current teaching context at Al-Yamamah University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I have included a course overview, goals and objectives, as well as a scope and sequence for four units. In addition, I have elaborated on one unit of the course by providing objectives, detailed lesson plans and supplementary material. Through this course learners will investigate and work with different types of folktales. Due to the fact that many folktales reveal a character making some sort of a sacrifice on behalf of others, learners will find that such selflessness is a form of philanthropy. They will look at giving motivators and make connections between folktales and giving. Finally, through community service task-based projects, students will improve their reading and writing skills while developing social consciousness and a generosity of spirit