A taste of YA: Introducing young adult literature in the EFL classroom

Abstract

[eng] Although there have been instances in which literature has been part of English as a Foreign Language lessons, it is not a common phenomenon. Young adult literature in particular is a popular genre among readers, but not in the educational system. This paper aims to introduce this literary genre into the English as a Foreign Language classroom through a project based on three celebrated novels, chosen for both their contents and for what they may contribute to students educationally and personally. This paper can be divided into three parts. The first one is a brief examination of how literature and young adult literature have been used in EFL classrooms and the benefits they can have in students. The second part presents the three novels and the authors chosen: Turtles All the Way Down by John Green, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli. Finally, the third and last part involves the nine lesson plans that compose the project and the worksheets that can be found in the annex.