From Theory to Practice: Promoting Reading Engagement through Literature in High School EFL Classrooms

This study aims to identify and evaluate how teachers effectively can bring literature to life in the EFL classroom and promote high school students’ engagement and understanding of the text. Through a comprehensive literature review and analysis of empirical data, this study will provide recommendations for teachers on how to enhance the teaching of literature and improve students’ comprehension, critical thinking, and engagement with texts. While challenges in the EFL classroom have been studied, research exploring literature as a means of promoting reading engagement is limited and outdated. Our study contributes to this area of research and presents a few examples of how teachers can incorporate literature in dynamicand engaging ways. As research in this area evolves, new ideas and approaches will undoubtedly emerge. Keywords: literature in the classroom; teaching literature; why literature; effective strategies for teaching literature; teaching literature EFL; effective strategies literature; More Happy Than Not; Adam Silvera