Literature, an Eye to Understand the World

Literature, an Eye to Understand the World

written by 20111 Chaewon Song

In this globalizing world, language has become a key element to get  an advantage in the world. Then what kinds of ways to learn a foreign language are there? Many people could think of studying with a workbook, attending a language institute, watching movies without subtitles, watching CNN 10 every day, and so on.

However, many of these, it is learning literary works that is considered integral and advantageous to learners. To know the reason, it is better to know the role of education with literature.

There are two approaches for learning foreign languages. The first one is linguistics, and the second one is literary.

When it comes to education, on linguistic side, learners can study vocabulary that is used in everyday life and grammar that is necessary to make correct sentences and develop speaking, listening, and writing abilities.

On the other hand, education with literature can help readers understand the culture or history of the country. For example, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a novel that represents the 1920s of America and illustrates the society of America realistically right after World War I. Like this, since the culture could be a setting of the literary work, literary works are essential to foreign language education.

Why is it so important to know about other countries’ cultures?

It’s because a lack of cultural understanding sows the seeds of prejudice and discrimination. If a tourist did not know that Japanese believe audience should be quiet in a concert, he or she may misunderstand that Japanese don’t know how to have fun. So by learning literary works learners can decrease the possibility of it.

Despite these merits on learning literary works, it is not the proper way to start. The reason is that readers should have the basic ability of vocabulary and grammar in order to read literary works.

So if beginners try to read The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway, it may result with them being discouraged by difficult words and sentences before they start to learn English earnestly, which could lead to them giving up.

So the thing that learners should consider is the right timing to introduce literary works to their study plan. Most importantly, they must have an attitude to overcome hardships and study step-by-step however much time it takes. If so, they could have an eye for understanding the world.