"Literature: A Rich Resource for Teaching Language and Culture in Context"
In this article, Moeller distinguishes traditional approaches to using literature in the language classroom to strategies based on more recent research that emphasizes the importance of student interaction with text. Whereas before literature meant "great classics", Moeller suggests it is more important to select and present text that "awakens interest and motivates the reader".
One point that I found relevant was the fact that the cognitive development of learners is much further developed than their ability to use the target language. In my observation class, I was speaking to a student who expressed just that--he felt that he could not react to a text he had read because he did not have the skills yet. Interestingly, this article explores cited theories in practice by presenting a concrete example, "The Bremen Town Musicians". Some of the activities suggested have the students using English (mostly in the pre-reading activities). I found this very relevant if we are to "awaken an interest", it might be necessary in the lower proficiency levels to engage the students with the text with some activities that are appropriate for their stage of cognitive development. Later and throughout the lesson, they can use the target language to practice targeted structures and vocabulary. In more advanced proficiency levels, the students will use more and more of the target language, and hopefully by this point, they will be motivated and feel confident approaching texts in the target language--great classics, newspapers and cartoons alike.
