Moderator: The teaching of English as a foreign language in primary schools is gaining

popularity throughout the world. The traditional structurally‐based texts and

the newer, integrated, communicative courses might not be sufficient for the

demands of the academic classes.

On the other hand, a syllabus that is based, or that draws heavily on authentic

children's stories, provides a motivating medium for language learning while

fostering the development of the thinking skills that are needed for second

language academic literacy. Literature can also act as a powerful agent of

change by developing pupils' intercultural awareness while at the same time

nurturing empathy, a tolerance for diversity, and emotional intelligence.

We have invited some guests to tell us more on our pleasure. First, I would

like to introduce Datin Nurliyana Aqilah binti Lias as the curriculum developer

from the Ministry of Education from Malaysia, Miss Noorainie binti Ahmad

Fathil, a teacher from SK Three Rivers, Mukah, Sarawak, who has been

teaching for 10 years, Madam Norezzah binti Mohd. Firdaus, a mother to our

student in SK Sungai Merab, who is also the Vice President of the Parents

and Teachers’ Association and here, we have our last guest, Nur Amirah binti

Mahmud, the Year 5 student of SK Jalan Tiga.

Our topic is “Literature as one of minor English subject aside from Language

Arts’. So, today, we are going to discuss about whether literature is necessary

to be included in English Subject aside from Language Arts. First, I would like

to invite Datin Liyana to explain about the concept introduced.

Liyana: Thank you Miss Syuhada. Firstly, I would like to say that English has been a

major part of our life. I have been majoring in literature for 5 years and I can

say that I have enjoyed those 5 years of my life. I would like to share the joy of

learning literature with my colleagues’ especially fellow teachers at school,

lecturers and fellow pupils.

Therefore, I have come up with this concept of making literature as a

prominent subject aside from Language Arts which is currently the minor for

English Subject at school. Why? I think aside from learning moral subject,

literature can also instil moral values in a way that I think would be even more

effective than the Moral Subject itself.

Moderator: Miss Noorainie, as a teacher, who will teach this component to the students,

what do you think of literature as another component in the English Subject?

Ainee: I definitely agree with Datin Liyana that literature could instil moral values.

Through reading or enjoying literature, pupils involved in the stories that they

have read or any plays that they acted in. It is the teacher’s responsibility to

guide the pupils to identify the moral values that they learned.

However, teacher should use HOTS questions to make the pupils to think in

depth about the moral values that they should get from their own readings.

There are many moral values that they should get from the readings that can

be taken from literature. Whether it is directly or indirectly stated, moral value

is one of the component in literature that can be identified easily by readers if

they enjoy the reading. It is one of the reasons why I agree that through

literature, moral values can be instilled.

Ezzah: As we all know, students are taught Islamic Education and Moral Education in

schools. As parents, I agree with the fact of using literature component to instil

moral values. I can see literature as an interesting platform to engage my

children in learning especially English. In fact, if these basic moral values are

taught at an early age, there will be less attitude problem. Hence, I absolutely

agree with this concept where literature is included as one of the minor aside

from Language Arts.

Also, I have seen so many parents that have abandoned their roles as moral

teachers to their children because they are too busy. I am not espousing that

any one religion to be taught to children in public schools, but I think as

educators, we have the responsibility to teach our kids about the basics of

character for their good as today’s students will be tomorrow’s leaders.

Moderator: Now, we would like to listen to our pupil, Nur Amirah about her opinion on this

topic. Based on what previous panels have mentioned, what do you think

about literature as another minor subject to be introduced in the English

subject.

Mira: As a student, I face the same needs and challenges in my daily life. However,

my classmates are of different background. Some of them are from a well-to-

do family while some have financial challenges. I agree that through literature,

good moral values can be instilled among the students.

For instances, the sense of empathy. It is because literature allows us to

inhabit different perspectives. Take a look at “Si Tanggang”. This story is

about a son who leaves his widowed poor mother to make a fortune and

promises to return for her. When he returns to his homeland, he refuses to

acknowledge is mother and the incident leads to a tragedy. Imagine your

mother was in her place. How would she feel? Should you have forgotten your

mother? The one who carries you for 9 months in her womb. Through the

story, I learn that a mother is a person that we should respect and we should

never abandon our mother.

Therefore, I agree that students could benefit from learning literature in

English Language.

Moderator: So, all of the panels agree that through literature, we can instill good moral

values. Datin Liyana, is there any other reasons that you want to introduce

literature as a minor in English subject?

Liyana: I study literature because I believe there is power in stories. Literature is both

intensely personal as well as communal experience. Therefore I would like to

add the advantages of having literature as one of the minors under English

Subject at school. It would greatly give exposure to other cultures and the

world of imagination. Pupils are encouraged to have wild imaginations that

would intrigued interaction through debates about a certain issue arise in the

story.

Furthermore, literature will also help establish reading habits among pupils as

well as teachers. You see, having literature would not only benefit the pupils, it

would also give great advantages to English teachers at school. By learning

English through literature, we could produce more mature pupils in the future

and this phenomenon would place us parallel with the education system of the

developing countries around the world.

Ezzah: Before this, Language Arts helps my children to learn better and they said

when they learn Language Arts, it is not boring at all. They have fun in

learning. They learn new thing. Like I mentioned earlier, I agree with the point

of literature as one of the minor English subject aside from the Language Arts.

As in Literature, my children will be exposed to other culture and the world of

imagination and I agree with it. My children will be using their imaginations,

expand their vocabularies and gain a better understanding of themselves

through literature which is good for them as students.

But, I see this also will become a burden to my children and me as their

parents. Why I say so? Here’s why. I am going to spend more money to buy

books for my children. New subject means new books and new books need

money. And yes, it helps my children with the exposure of the other culture but

we as their parents need to know whether the content are actually suitable for

my children and will it be able to help my children to increase their

performance in academic.

Ainee: I strongly believe that through literature, students can be exposed to other

cultures and world of imagination. There are many types of literature around

the world. But, teachers have to choose suitable reading materials for the

pupils.

Every country has their own culture which conveys their own identity.

Therefore, in selecting materials for literature reading, teacher has to make

sure that there are no sensitive issues mentioned. Negative cultures in the

literature have to be filtered thoroughly.

I believe that through literature, we can learn other culture besides our own

culture. Consequently, the pupils can enter the world of imagination when the

pupils enjoy the reading and involve in the literature activity.

Mira: In terms of world of imaginations, literature allows us to visit places and times

and encounter cultures that we would otherwise never experience.

For instances, the best known legend of Langkawi is of Mahsuri, a pretty

woman who lived during the reign of Sultan Abdullah Mukarram Shah the

Second who ruled Kedah between 1762 and 1800. She died when her

mother-in-law accused her of a crime that she did not commit. As proof of her

innocence, some people say, white blood was seen gushing out of her wound

during execution.

Mahsuri is a famous Malay legends and I feel that it is very interesting to be

learned in the classroom. Different ethnic group produces different literature.

Literature provides an avenue for students to learn about their own cultural

heritage and the cultures of other people. It is crucial for children of our age to

learn these values to develop positive attitudes toward our own culture and

the cultures of others is necessary for both social and personal development.

Moderator: So, Madam Norezzah, you seem to have both positive and negative opinions

towards literature. Aside from the increasing expenses for books, what do you

think of literature as a way to establish reading habits among pupils

especially?

Ezzah: Despite of having extra expenses for the books, me as their parents still see

the silver lining behind this. It is going to nurture my children’s reading habit.

As being mentioned by the curriculum developer earlier, literature is fun and I

believed that the content itself should be fun. I want my children to have a

learning environment that will not give pressure to them while learning.

Also, I want to see that by learning literature, it will help to develop my

children’s reading habits. I do not want my children just learn but their reading

habits still not improving. I believe that schools taught my children to not only

writing, listening and grammar but also reading. So, I have high expectation

that if the literature is being implemented in school’s curriculum it will help my

children to be better in their reading. Hence, I will agree with the point that

implementing literature as the minor English subject aside from the Language

Arts if it helps in improving my children’s reading habit.

Moderator: What about you..Miss Noorainie?

Ainee: I agree with reading habits could be enhanced through literature. Reading

habits need to be enhanced because pupils need to be able to read and apply

it in their daily lives. The downside is, the reading materials are usually too

heavy. The pupils themselves have to be motivated to read the materials

provided. Some of them are able to read but may not be able to comprehend

the text.

As a teacher, I think teaching reading and teaching literature are not an easy

task. This will increase the workloads of teachers. There is too much work to

be done. I personally think that if literature is being implemented as a minor

subject, that would be a burden to teachers. We have already language arts

and there are a lot of teaching aids to be prepared. And I think it will be the

same for literature too.

Liyana: I think teachers can find alternatives to reduce workload. Teachers can use

ICT to implement the teaching and learning session in the classroom.

Literature does not always mean that teachers are stuck with books. What’s

the point of having modern technology? We can make it to full use especially

in reducing the issue of workload among teachers. The use of movies to

convey meaning and learning during literature classes, would spark

conversation among pupils. Pupils are encouraged to do review after watching

movies as well as they are asked to make reviews after reading a book. The

phenomenon of children being able to talk about a certain topic is beyond

Performa. This could lead us to being parallel as the other developing

countries in the whole world.

Nevertheless, i still believe that introducing literature as one of the minor

subject under English as i have witnessed that it can be executed successfully

in the States and other developing countries.. thus i also believe that

Malaysian pupils could cope and be able to making it a reality as well literature

would really provide benefits to our youth as it has been to any other countries

with much over-bearing cultures. Thank you.

Mira: In my opinion, when students read literature that is appropriate for them, it’s

intensely fun. Movies are enjoyable, but oftentimes the written version,

readers will say, is more powerful and engrossing. Students who don’t find

literature to be a whole lot of fun are almost certainly reading the wrong things

(too difficult, too removed from their interests), and not reading enough

(perhaps they are slogging line by line, week by week, through a text beyond

their growing capabilities).

As a student, if I discover the fun of literature, i will read more and more,

vaulting forward in verbal skills and reasoning abilities, and becoming better

readers.

Ezzah: To conclude what I have said and mentioned just now, I need to see the

effectiveness of literature’ implementation as the minor subject first. If there is

no significant result from the implementation, how can us as the parents

convinced that our children are learning well in school? Also, if there is no

result, we as the parents cannot see the advantages and disadvantages of the

implementation. I suggest that parents should be involved more in anything

that related to children’s academic performances

Moderator: We now know the importance of learning culture in a language classroom. To

be able to understand a literary text better, one has to understand the setting,

the culture, the background of the story. One has to examine and research on

the culture of the people in that story. From today’s discussion, we can

conclude that through literature there are 3 main benefits to our whole system.

Firstly, it is to instill moral values. Secondly, literature is beneficial in exposing

pupils to different culture, and lastly to establish reading habits. Before we end

this discussion, we would like to thank our guess for sharing their opinions.

Thank you.