Reading Literature and Lfarning a Second Language ¹

If literature is to be a useful vehicle for the teaching of second language skills, that literature must first succeed as a literary experience for the student. The failure of literary texts in second language teaching is often the result of a failure to encourage or even to allow students to receive such texts as literature, that is, as a literary experience. Consequently, second language teachers interested in using literature in their classes must be aware of how literature can teach second language skills while, at the same time, retaining its literary value for second language learners.