”I Want to Make Them Think” : An Analysis of Teachers’ Use of Dystopian Literature in the Swedish EFL Classroom

Abstract: This study aims to investigate the role of dystopian literature in the Swedish EFL classroom. In particular, it intends to investigate and analyze the method that Swedish EFL teachers use to employ this genre into the classroom, as well as the aim for the usage. The study is qualitative and has been carried out through the conducting of semi-structured interviews consisting of open-ended questions. The findings of the study show that there are a number of common aims and methods among the respondents.  The aim for the using of this particular genre was commonly to increase the students’ willingness to read by working with literature that would hopefully be appealing to them. Common methods for  using this genre of literature include discussions in different group-constellations, as well as employing films and shorter video clips as a complement to the standard literature used during lectures. Further findings show that teachers are inclined to adapt their teaching depending on the individual student groups. In other words, there is a tendency among the respondents to be flexible in their teaching, in order to favor students’ development in the English language.