Foreign Language Literature and The Beginning Learner‐Reader

Given the traditional “skills” focus of beginning and intermediate foreign language classes, college FL students typically receive little exposure to literary works until their “advanced” levels of language study. This article, by examining the nature of literature and by surveying how current textbooks guide beginning learners to access literary works, explores the potential learner benefits of early exposure to literature and suggests instructional guidelines for effective literature study at the beginning level.