Using Folktales in ESL Classrooms

Abstract

Literature based language teaching which involves the use of a variety of literary works like prose, poems, folktales, legends and myths has been considered a common approach to enhance language learning process. A folktale is a traditional story that has been passed orally before the advent of the writing systems. Folktales also help pass values and beliefs, traditions and culture across generations. In general, folktales include distinguishing structural and linguistic features. This paper seeks to explore the folk narratives and argues that there are certain pedagogical benefits in using folktales to understand culture and for teaching English as a second language (ESL). It further examines how folktales can be employed in ESL classrooms to augment the learners’ language skills, communicative skills, vocabulary and cultural knowledge. In the study, different folktales of Manipur and Meghalaya, two states in the north eastern part of India, are explored to enhance the learner’s language learning process and cultural awareness. The paper further deliberates on the various classroom practices where folktales are used to teach language, culture and values in an appealing way