The Role of Literature in Developing EFL Learners’ Intercultural Communicative Competence

Abstract

Language and culture connected with each other and these two factors cannot exist in isolation since language is a large part of culture. It is difficult to learn a language without learning its culture. "Learning a foreign language always entails learning a second culture to some degree, even if you never actually set foot in the foreign country where the language is spoken (Brown, 1980, cited in Fenner, 2002, 19). A literary text is viewed as an important source of cultural reference and a means of understanding the culture of source people whose language is taught. A literary text allows learners to understand cultural elements and plays an important role as a complementary tool to other documents that can offer a vision of culture of the language learned. It is, often, considered that literary text conveys values and culture of a people and represents a very rich source concerning different cultural elements corresponding to a civilization (Fenner, 2002, 19). This paper aims at illuminating the significance of literature in promoting English learners’ intercultural communicative competence through exploring the benefits of using literary texts in English classes.