EXPLORING THE ROLE OF LITERATURE IN DEVELOPING SPEAKING AND WRITING SKILLS OF LEARNERS

Abstract

This paper investigated the role of literature in developing speaking and writing skills among students at higher secondary school level in district Swat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. Literature reveals that current practice of teaching English at higher secondary schools uses GTM, Grammar Translation Method (GTM), in which word to word translation is done and language is taught through first language. Studies have revealed that literature plays a key role in developing speaking and writing skills of students. Most of the previous research is reported on primary school level. There is a dearth of studies on how literature plays a role in developing speaking and writing skills of students at higher secondary level. Moreover, in the current literature, the role of literature especially short fictions and other similar content has been overlooked and underestimated related to developing speaking and writing skills of students. For this purpose, the researcher conducted a survey to find out the role of literature in developing writing and speaking skills of students at higher secondary school level. To collect data, the researcher designed and administered a structured questionnaire to 302 students.  The students were selected through random sampling method. The findings of the study testify that teaching of English language through literature helps them develop speaking and writing skills. The study also found that there was a significant difference in the perceptions of female versus male students towards the role of literature in developing speaking and writing skills. Based on the results, the paper suggests that literature (short fictions) may be used as source text for developing speaking and writing skills of students.