Using Short Stories in Reading Skills Class

Abstract

Using literature to teach language has several advantages such as contributing to a better linguistic understanding, a development of creative skills, an authentic model of language use with its rich potential (Ramsaran, 1983; Collie & Slater, 1987). Short story seems to be the most suitable one since it is short, and aims at giving a ⿿single effect⿿, there is usually one plot, a few characters; there is no detailed description of setting. Also, research on short stories in EFL classrooms state that they can be a good indicator of increased motivation, increased interest in reading and improved reading skills (Vural, 2013; Saka, 2014; Pardede, 2011). This study aims to find out the thoughts and attitudes of the first year students in Bulent Ecevit University English Language and Literature Department towards the short stories covered in Reading Skills course in 2015- 2016 fall term. The data gathered via a questionnaire was analyzed using frequency tests. The results indicated that studying short stories has a number of benefits for the students such as broadening their perspectives, enabling them to think about the reasons rather than the result, showing them different life styles, providing them with a comparison between their own culture and other cultures, increasing their appreciation for literature and making them read more short stories.