English Literature as a Tool for High School Language Learning

A Research Proposal for Departamento de Estudos da Língua Inglesa, suas Literaturas e Tradução of Universidade Federal do Ceará

Abstract

This study will analyse the reliability and effectiveness of English literature as a tool to improve language learning in Brazilian high schools. Initial research will require a diverse selection of high school classes, including students from different schools, grades and proficiency levels; the control group should have a similar size and variety. Treatment group teachers will integrate the reading of a literary piece of choice with other classroom activities, while the control group continues to follow the standard teaching methodology. Students of both groups shall take the same quiz prior to and after the experiment. The grades should be compared by calculating the average and median score of each selection of students. If there is a significant disparity of improvement pertaining the treatment group’s performance in comparison to the control group, further, more pragmatic research is warranted. The results of this study are paramount to the current discussion of the future of second language learning in Brazil.