Proposal for a curriculum of English literature for Spanish-speaking students in the last grade of high school

Abstract

In the past years foreign languages have been taught in Spain as a device to translate and interpret literature. Now the emphasis is put especially on language, and literature is only appreciated as a device to improve the language skills and not in itself. However, the author considers that literature should play an important role in second language teachings as a literary experience too, and has devised a curriculum of English Literature for Spanish-speaking students in the last grade of high school.The project includes an investigation of the purposes for such a curriculum, the criteria to be used in selecting the literature for the curriculum and a selection and presentation of literary texts.