Literature, which is a means of expressing self through the medium of language, is frequently used in ESL classrooms as an authentic method of teaching the target language. This review answers two questions on the obstacles and opportunities experienced by most teachers during the teaching of literature in ESL classrooms in Malaysia. 22 studies from the year 2015-2022 were selected from Google Scholar and Educational Resource Information Centre (ERIC) to answer these two review questions. 15 relevant published studies on the challenges in integrating literature in the English classrooms, while 7 fitting previous research on the opportunities that arise via the implementation of this idea. The challenges reviewed are lack of training and guidance on teaching literature, time constraints in completing the syllabus, lower mastery in teaching literature, and the use of irrelevant literary materials in the syllabus. While the opportunities reviewed are knowledge enrichment toward others' backgrounds, enhancing language skills mastery, and stimulating critical and creative thinking. This review suggests further research on exploring or introducing a systematic and comprehensive literary module to solve the problems faced by English teachers during the implementation of these literary components inside the Malaysian English syllabus.
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In-Text Citation: (Ukat & Ismail, 2022)
To Cite this Article: Ukat, J. A., & Ismail, H. H. (2022). Teaching Literature in Malaysian English Classrooms: A Review on its Challenges and Opportunities. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 12(11), 1866 – 1878.
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