The use of literature as a veritable instrument for the teaching of English language

Abstract

This article discusses the use of literature as a popular tool for teaching basic language skills such as reading, writing, listening and speaking and other language areas such as vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation in English as a Second Language classroom. It uses the literary method in its  analysis of the Nigerian situation. The reasons and criteria for selecting literary texts are discussed. Also the benefits of different genres of literature  such as poetry, short fiction, drama and novel to language teaching are taken into account. The paper recognized that all genres should be carefully selected  and used in the teaching of English Language skills and language skills should not be taught in isolation.