Abstract
This study examines the effectiveness of a proposed English language program based on integrating two forms of children literature, mainly short stories and songs, in developing the needed life skills and language learning strategies of primary school students. Besides, it emphasized the importance of providing EFL fifth year primary students with activities and opportunities to raise their awareness of their learning, as it helped students understand how to plan, monitor and evaluate their learning. The study targeted ten life skills distributed under four main categories: cognitive, personal, social and linguistic skills. Ninety fifth grade primary students participated in the present study. Five instruments were used: the needed life skills and language learning strategies checklists, a criterion for selecting the stories and songs, the pre/post life skills measures (situation test, questionnaire, oral interpersonal communication test), language learning strategies questionnaire and the students’ satisfaction/dissatisfaction questionnaire. The program was taught over a period of two months (two sessions per week). Data collected were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methodology. Qualitative methods were used to assess students’ development over the 8 weeks. Results revealed that life skills and language learning strategies can be taught effectively through the medium of children literature. As a whole, this study contributed to the ESL/EFL field by providing information about the importance of skill building for life at young age and that fundamental changes needed for language instruction. Furthermore, the study presents a detailed teaching strategy for teaching life skills through children literature.
Highlights
Education is a process that ready students for the future factual, practical and concrete world as active learners, efficient professionals and as an active and involved citizen
This study examines the effectiveness of a proposed English language program based on integrating two forms of children literature, mainly short stories and songs, in developing the needed life skills and language learning strategies of primary school students
More than one third of the pupils reported that it was easy for them to understand the life skills presented in the stories (75-77%) whereas (89%) of students reported they can share in the program activities. only (66-67%) of the students reported that the time was enough for practicing life skills and language learning strategies. 100% of the students assured that they learnt better with the proposed program
Summary
Education is a process that ready students for the future factual, practical and concrete world as active learners, efficient professionals and as an active and involved citizen. It is much more about thinking skills which involve creative and critical approaches to problem-solving and decision-making. The concept of “education for life” has attended much interest among educators from all over the world. This concept is based on Functionalism that illustrates the relationship between schools and society. After schooling students are expected to master a set of life skills to help them function better in various life roles, such as learner, friend, parent, worker, and citizen (Education Commission, 2000)
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