HANOI LAW UNIVERSITY HOANG VIET LINH 443035 ENGLISH-MAJORED STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS THE IMPORTANCE OF ENGLISH LITERATURE IN LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGE: A STUDY AT HANOI LAW UNIVE
Learning foreign language in higher education
The definition of foreign language cc ceceeeeeeeeeeeteteteeeeeeeeeeeee 6 1.1.2 Learning foreign language in Vietnam and abroad
Language is an inevitable element of human life (Ashrafuzzaman & Alam, 2017) There is no communication that occurs in the world without language, and English has become a popular language that people from everywhere can use In the world of globalization, the English language brings to people plenty of opportunities Having a good level of English provides learners with a handful of opportunities to enjoy their life and career There are numerous comprehensive and simple definitions of language, it could be “Language is a set of sentences, each finite in length and constructed out of a finite set of elements (Chomsky, 1957)” In Merriam Webster dictionary, language is defined as a system of conventional spoken or written symbols used by people in a shared culture to communicate with each other A language both reflects and affects a culture’s way of thinking in comparison, Oxford dictionary defines language as “the method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way”.
A language is considered foreign if it is learned largely in the classroom and is not spoken in the society where the tutoring happens Foreign language refers to a non-native language outside of the environment where it is commonly spoken The study of another language allows the individual to communicate effectively and creatively and to participate in real-life situations through the language of the authentic culture itself Learning another language provides access to a perspective other than one’s own, increases the ability to see connections across content areas, and promotes an_interdisciplinary perspective while gaining intercultural understanding Language is the vehicle required for effective human-to-human interactions and yields a better understanding of one’s own language and culture
The language ability of students’ forms based on certain language- related knowledge students have after learning To express their inner feelings and to pass the necessary communication information through a language all need related language skills In a word, if there are no corresponding language skills, the language will lose the corresponding communication functions and the corresponding knowledge student learns will lose the foundation of existence Dan Douglas (2000:296) presents an interesting framework for language ability which consists of the following components: grammatical knowledge (vocabulary, morphology, syntax), textual knowledge (how to structure and organize language), functional knowledge (ideational, manipulative, imaginative functions of language), and sociolinguistic knowledge (dialects, registers, cultural references)
1.1.2 Learning foreign language in Vietnam and abroad Learning a foreign language is all about learning how to truly communicate and connect with others, an incredibly important life skill that can only be cultivated by interacting with people Studies have demonstrated the cognitive benefits of learning another language, no matter how old you are These studies have shown that bilinguals tend to have bigger brains, better
7 memories, are more creative, are better problem solvers, etc Not only do these advantages make it easier to learn yet more languages, but they also make it easier to learn, well, anything The ability to quickly switch between tasks is especially important in today’s busy multitasking world Bilinguals can switch between tasks much faster than their monolingual counterparts and can handle many more tasks at once It is estimated that about 90% of foreign language learners have studied English (Do, 2006) English education has been identified as key to improving the quality of its rapidly expanding tertiary institutions and is crucial to the larger aim of modernising and internationalising its economy Learning foreign language in Vietnam is different from learning foreign language abroad In Vietnam, during tertiary education, students study English as their major or as a part of their study program Most students choose to learn English to qualify for better jobs, to be eligible for promotions, or to undertake the overseas study Foreign language study is simply part of a very basic liberal education Learning a foreign language such as English and getting soaked into an entirely new culture and worldview is the surest way to become knowledgeable, proficient, and improve language processing skills
It is easier to study a language when students are abroad Students would be surrounded by the language 24/7 and they would learn words and expressions in a practical setting, which allows a long-lasting knowledge of the language The memorization that feels tedious at home will come naturally when students live in an immersive environment and attend English foreign language school Students will become much more conscious of not only cultural customs, but of the grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation patterns of their first language When learners master a foreign language, they can exercise their new superhuman power of being able to understand what someone is saying, recall the proper vocab and grammar, put that vocab and grammar into the proper context, and reply back all on the spot and in a timely
Learning English at Hanoi Law UniVersÌty
Because of the strong impact of English on global integration, learning English at HLU has become a compulsory subject for the students’ training program Besides enhancing the quality of legal education, the question of how to teach and learn English effectively has gained great concern among lecturers and learners for the past few years At the basic level, equipping learners through the English skills module is the priority and main goal in the process of teaching English In English-majored program, they study English skills and related subjects such as phonetics, grammar, legal English, and culture and literature modules Students are not only acquiring the language for the subject of the course but also improving other matters related in order to enhance their foreign language
With a basic knowledge of the language, students have a certain ability to communicate However, in the process of language communication in daily life, students do not only need to skillfully apply the basic knowledge of these languages but also need to master certain skills in the use of language process Different people will have different ways of expressing the same meaning, while in different contexts, the same person will also have different ways of expression All of these are a mixture of many aspects of learning English, by learning, students can enhance their proficiency not only in study but also in their life.
English literature and learning English literature at university .9 1 The definition of English literafure ô+ sôô+s+esexsx+esex 9
Learning and teaching literature at Hanoi Law University
In teaching English literature, teachers employ various methods to engage students and facilitate their learning They use a range of materials, including novels, poems, plays, and films, and encourage students to analyze and interpret them through different lenses, such as feminist, postcolonial, or psychoanalytic Teachers also incorporate discussions, debates, and group projects to foster students’ analytical and communicative skills and help them develop their own critical perspectives
To learn English literature effectively, students need to be active participants in the learning process They should read widely, reflect on what they read, and engage in discussions and debates with their peers They should also be open to different interpretations and perspectives and develop their own ideas based on evidence and analysis Furthermore, they should develop their writing skills by producing different types of written assignments, such as essays, reviews, and research papers
Learning literature at the university level is about more than just mastering a set of skills, it is about engaging with complex ideas, challenging assumptions, and exploring new perspectives Learning and teaching English literature at the university level is an enriching experience that enhances
14 students’ language proficiency and critical thinking skills while exposing them to a wide range of cultural and literary traditions Teachers and students play crucial roles in this process by using effective teaching and learning methods and engaging actively in the learning process.
Previous studies in relation to the importance of English literature
The first investigation into the topic is “Significance of Literature in Foreign Language Teaching” by Ruzbeh Babaee & Wan Roselezam Bt Wan Yahya (2014) The research aims to consider literature as a significant tool for teaching fundamental language skills including speaking, listening, reading, and writing Reasons for the use of literature in language classrooms and major factors for choosing appropriate kinds of literary texts in such classes should be highlighted in order to make readers aware of the primary reasons why language instructors are suggested to use literary texts Furthermore, teaching language skills through literature, the advantages of various kinds of genres of literature to language teaching, and some issues faced by language instructors in teaching language via literature are considered in the present study Literature provides opportunities for foreign language classes and can appeal to students with various learning styles Literary texts are reliable sources of linguistic input and can help the students practice the four skills—speaking, listening, reading, and writing In this study, the researchers demonstrated the benefits of using literature in foreign language teaching Literature can help students enhance their perception of other cultures and societies Also, literary texts can consider authentic subjects like love and war that one may experience in the real world Indeed, literature is representational instead of referential While referential language tends to communicate at only one level and is informational, the representational language of literature considers the students and involves their feelings and perceptions of the real world Literary texts help the students to activate their imagination and develop their emotions
The second relevant study was undertaken under the title “The role of literature in foreign language acquisition” by Marija Krsteva (2014) The objectives of the research see to analyze literature plays an essential role in foreign language acquisition Each level of foreign language study requires the inclusion of literary texts Together with factual facts, it develops a deeper awareness of language use Courses indicate the complexity of various texts in terms of themes, characters, or cultural difficulty This method acquires an enormous proportion of linguistic and literary information through higher education At university schools, learning English focuses not so much on the literary work from the artistic point of view, as on the text conveying ideas that students familiarize themselves with and build vocabulary In upper levels of foreign language acquisition students increase their competence and confidence to speak and present ideas in the foreign language At advanced levels, foreign learners put their imagination and research to work and many of them accomplish verbal advantage close to native speakers
The third study refers to “A study of Vietnamese teachers’ perceptions and practice in teaching English literature in the context of English” by Nguyen Thi Kieu Thu (2022) The study aims at exploring the perceptions of Vietnamese teachers of English literature from major universities in Ho Chi Minh City, which focuses on two main aspects namely their perception of ELF, i.e., awareness as well as evaluation of its status in Vietnam, and its influence on their teaching philosophy and practice in English literature courses At the tertiary level, English literature, as a theoretical subject, is an obligatory course in most English departments teaching students majoring in English due to the inextricable link between literature and language The incorporation of literature into teaching language becomes intriguing when English adopts its role as EFL, a means of communication among people of different mother tongues and cultural backgrounds A number of concepts associated with ELF, which the participants value influences their teaching in terms of material
16 selection, and class activities but not assessment where the native speaker norms concerning language use are respected
The final research digging deeper into the relationship between English literature and learning foreign language is “The Role of English Language and Literature in Cultivating Students’ Language Skills” by Weixiang Liu & Peng Yang (2017) The purpose of the study was to demonstrate English language and literature education shall enhance the language skills of students Literature is a kind of art that reflects objective reality in the form of language and words Literature can get rid of the binding of specific material materials, be free from time and space constraints, reflect a wide range of rich social life, and directly characterize the complex and delicate inner world The cultivation of language skills is inseparable from literature Literature can stimulate the interest in language learning, provide rich and vivid materials, make learners seem to be immersive and unknowingly complete the accumulation of vocabulary, the infiltration of grammar, and the formation of language sense At the same time of getting the ability of understanding, the ability of outputting language also forms With the improvement of literary literacy, language skill also increases from basic understanding and expression to deep understanding and literary expression The study of English language and literature has an important influence on improving students’ skills to use language
Taking all the previous studies into account, the researcher comes to a realization that the major purpose of these studies is to clarify the importance of Literature in learning foreign languages These investigations shared the same suggestions for both learners and teachers to pay greater heed to the teaching and learning process of English literature In comparison with these preceding research papers, any sandy has a deep concentration on the importance of English literature in learning English language based on the perceptions of learners Moreover, the researcher pay attention to improving foreign language on the journey of learning English literature amongst students
17 so as to offer valuable suggestions for both educators and learners to enhance students’ language abilities Besides, my study is a descriptive, explanatory research that aims to investigate and provide an in-depth understanding of the learners’ perceptions, whilst the purpose of the cited research was to measure and figure out the relationship between English literature and learning English Language Accordingly, my current research seems to fill the gaps in the studies
To sum up, this chapter lays the foundation for study with crucial insights into foreign language, literature, the importance of English literature in learning foreign language, and earlier studies Concerning foreign language, there is a clarification on the definition of foreign language, the basic knowledge of foreign language of students When it comes to English literature, the researcher pays heed to the definition of English literature, and the meaning of English literature Furthermore, the importance of English literature in learning foreign language is explicitly explained With regard to earlier investigations associated with the importance of English literature in learning foreign language, the researcher takes some of them into detailed consideration by comparison with my study.