Literature in the EFL Classroom : How EFL Teachers in a Few Swedish Secondary Schools Use Novels in Their Classrooms

Abstract: Since 2011 The Swedish Curriculum for the compulsory school from 2011 (revised2018) states that different types of text that should be taught in EFL classrooms inSweden are “Literature and other fiction” (Skolverket 37). In my essay, I examine theuse of novels in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom in a few Swedishsecondary schools. What types of novels are used and what kinds of assignments aregiven to the pupils during a reading project? Are there any differences in how teachersuse novels in their classroom depending on previous experience? To find out why andhow one may use literature in the EFL classroom I made a literature review, and inorder to answer my questions about how novels are used in a few Swedish EFLclassrooms, I made a survey, consisting of a questionnaire, for EFL teachers. In my literature review I find that researchers and teacher manualspropose the use of either authentic novels or Graded Readers in the EFL classroom.The respondents of my survey agree with this as the majority of them use Young Adultnovels and Graded Readers. Most common among the respondents of the study is tolet the students talk about the novel they read together in groups, a type of assignmentthat is supported by research and teacher manuals. In my study I cannot find any solidsupport that previous experience affect the use of novels in class.