Fostering Student Responses in the Literature Classroom: The Implementation of Aesthetigrams as a Meaning-Making Strategy

Abstract

The province of Quebec has more people with low literacy than the national Canadian average, which results in a weak foundation for formal learning at the post-secondary level. Research indicates that students’ loss of interest in French classes is a common cause for this alarming phenomenon. In addition to this issue, approximately half of the Quebec population over 16 years of age (52%) have a literacy level at or above the estimated level for living efficiently [1]. This is a serious educational and social challenge that needs to be addressed in educational research. In an effort to reduce the weak literacy rate of students, this paper suggests an alternative teaching of Quebec playwright Wajdi Mouawad’s Incendies in three different secondary 5 (or grade 11) classes. Another objective of this research is to adopt appropriate methods to reinforce interest in Francophone Quebec literature and develop a further interest in reading.