Perceptions of University Students and Lecturers toward the Use of British and American Literature for EFL Development

Abstract

This research was conducted to identify the perception of university students and lecturers toward British and American literary reading activities to enhance academic abilities related to English as a Foreign Language (EFL). The paper aimed to determine students and lecturers’ beliefs toward literary reading such as purposes, factors, benefits, and problems in literary reading activities, and to assert that reading English-language literary works could be useful in EFL development. The research used a mixed methodology, administering quantitative questionnaire surveys and qualitative individual interviews to participants from four university departments related to EFL education and literary studies (English, World Languages, Literature, and Translation). The results showed that the participants had positive perceptions toward literary works, sharing ‘common’ perceptions that literary works could be used to improve language acquisition, imagination, readers’ habits, and ‘departmentexcusive’ perceptions. Both categories indicated that British and American literary works could, and should, be applied for specific purposes and professions. The research also suggested that literary reading should be gradually promoted both inside and outside classroom for the maximum EFL development benefits.