Young Adult Literature (YAL): An Analytical Study Among Selected EFL Teachers in Jordanian Public Schools

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to shed light on Young Adult literature (YAL) in Jordan. Eleven English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers and 62 EFL students in Jordanian public schools participated in this research to first measure their awareness of the YAL and to evaluate the academic benefits of integrating English YA literature into the Jordanian public school curricula. A group of EFL instructors and EFL learners were interviewed using a semi-structured guide. The instructors' interview questions focused on demographics, definitions of YA literature, age classification of YAL, benefits, and challenges of using YA novel in Jordanian English curricula. Questions for the learners centered on demographics, definition and age classification of YAL, and the use of YA novels in the EFL classroom. The study revealed that EFL teachers' reliance on the official curriculum tends to remove innovation and creativity from their teaching and limit their opportunities to adapt the curricula to the competence and interest of their EFL students. The research also revealed that EFL students who read English YA novels developed necessary competencies in both the English language and daily life experiences. The results showed that most EFL teachers in this research paper asserted that English YA novels positively affected EFL students in Jordan. This effect led to increased motivation and engagement in EFL classrooms.
 
 Received: 27 January 2021 / Accepted: 8 April 2021 / Published: 10 May 2021

Impact analysis of young adult literature on the morals of school students using parametric statistical techniques

“…This implied that young adult literature has effect on the morals of senior secondary school students. The result was in tandem with (Yassin & Saed, 2021) in a study titled young adult literature, an analytical study among selected eleven English as a foreign language found that young adult literature positively affects morals, motivation and engagement. According to the findings of (Salam, 2015), young adult literature reinforces beliefs and values while also encouraging moral development.…”

Enhancing Young Adult Literature to Improve Reading Ability

“…Students noticed that while using YAL, their reading capacity and skills had increased (Irion, 2018). Based on Yassin & Saed (2021), EFL students who had the opportunity to read some English YA narratives during the course were able to explore the uniqueness of the human condition regardless of ability, heritage, discourse, or faith; they were also able to develop strong bonds with YAL and the personalities inside them while also enhancing their English proficiency. As students read literary works, they become more aware of the language employed.…”

“…Extensive reading of YA fiction is one of the effective procedures for growing their English linguistics professions (Yassin & Saed, 2021). It meant that students could improve their reading skill especially narrative text by reading YAL extensively.…”

“…Young Adult Literature is designed to provide additional aspects to young adults. It is written specifically for young adults (YAs) to assist them in identifying themselves and the world around them (Yassin & Saed, 2021). YAL is a type of creative activity that has the potential to foster enjoyment, empathy, creativity, and linguistic abilities (Ee, 2016).…”

“…YAL gives a relevant and essential method for facilitating those discussions in more accurate procedures (Cook, 2016). Yassin & Saed (2021) clarified that Some English teachers are expected to incorporate YA reading into their programs so that teachers can help students build necessary competencies within literature and real-life situations. Miller (2017) explored that Young Adult Literature represents a type of value of YAL in classrooms.…”