Investigating the Impact of Using Literature on Improving University Students' Reading Comprehension

Abstract

The scope of the study was in the field of Applied linguistics. The problem of the study was that, the researcher noticed during his experiences in teaching English literature, most of university students who study English do have a problem in reading skills, and when they move from semester to another specially at the early level of the college they do not improve in reading until they are exposed to different genre of literature. The significance of this study is to apply different genres of literature to early levels at colleges, which they teach English literature. Moreover, students will have a great opportunity to know about other culture, as it helps them to avoid possible cultural chock if have an opportunity to visit those countries. This study aimed to investigate the impact of English literature in promoting students reading comprehension, the research realized that teaching literature leads to improve reading comprehension and teaching culture of a particular work as well, for instance when we teach British literature consequences we teach British culture inwardly, which facilitate when students come to read and understand why they acted as such, likewise when we teach poetry, we teach them the era during the incidence happened, which makes the student to read in depth to understand the point behind the lines. To set guidelines for importance of teaching literature at the early levels, to show the importance of literature in improving reading comprehension. The study adopted a descriptive, analytical method. The study achieved number of findings; There were statically significant similarities that teaching literature promotes reading comprehension as it leads to know the culture of a target arts better. Also the curriculum based on literature expand the capacity of students in improving reading comprehension, expose to the target culture and gaining English language afterword. Based on the results, the study recommended that, curricula designers, cultured and experts should adopt literature at the basic level to improve and promote reading comprehension and language, in addition to urgent need for teaching literature to improve the students’ skills, reading, culture and language. Also the study suggested carry out further studies on investigating English literature cultural impact on teaching reading comprehension, on other different genres of literature and to investigate the significant role of literature in promoting the students' level in reading comprehension and English Language.