A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO GERMAN LANGUAGE TEACHING THROUGH INTEGRATION OF LITERATURE

Abstract

Foreign language education seeks a variety of innovative approaches to enhance language skills of the learners continuously. In this context, literature plays a vital role. The study employs in exploring the impact of integrating literary work into foreign language education. The focus is on teaching German as a foreign language to learners of German as a foreign language at University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. The objectives of the study are to examine the influence of integrating literary work to enhance the foreign language acquisition. The sample group consisted of 40 undergraduates of German as a foreign language at University of Kelaniya who pursue the Bachelor of Honors degree in their 3rd academic year. The literary Text: Perfume- Story of a Murderer served as the literary text for the data analysis of the study, with its complicated grammatical structures, vocabulary and cultural aspects. A mixed approach was used in the study to collect qualitative and quantitative data. Quantitative data were collected through pre and post assessments distributed among the students whereas qualitative data were gathered through analysis of the activities, classroom observations and student feedbacks. The findings show a significant improvement of language skills including vocabulary, grammar, writing accuracy, coherence, and text comprehension, speaking skills, critical thinking, historical knowledge and cultural awareness. Further it shows that, selecting culturally, historically and linguistically challenging literal texts along with a suitable curriculum to integrate the literary work can encourage a holistic approach to foreign language instruction by promoting not only the language skills but also the cultural and intellectual competencies of the language learners.