Working with English literature in high school : a teacher and pupil perspective

This study aims to explore how four English teachers at a high school in Northern Sweden approach their teaching of literature in the classroom, in accordance with the syllabi for English 5, A and B. Furthermore, it is of interest to see what different kinds of teaching methods that are used trying to inspire and have the pupils interested in reading and talking about literature. Additionally, the study aims to show how eight pupils experience reading English literature and the teaching of it. To answer the questions of issue for this essay, qualitative interviews were preferred as method. The result shows that the teachers in this study used varying teaching methods to encourage and motivate their pupils in reading English literature in order to develop linguistically. When processing the literature, oral discussions and sharing of personal thoughts and experiences with others were essential in order to reach a deeper understanding of the texts. The areas where the pupils experienced the main improvement were vocabulary, spelling, pronunciation and syntax. Additionally, by reading novels and watching films, the pupils developed an understanding for people not sharing the same culture or circumstances of life.Validerat; 20120206 (anonymous