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Novels in the Classroom: A New Approach to High School English Teaching

The aim of high school English education in Korea can be said to be communicative competence, based on the power to think and explore. Extensive reading, especially young adult literature, can be a powerful approach toward achieving this goal, but introducing novels into regular high school classes in Korea is not a simple task. This article is based on my experience of teaching the novels the Midwife's Apprentice, the Witches, and Hatchet, in one of the science high schools in Seoul, where I was permitted to freely design the English curriculum. The first thing to consider ie selecting the novels and organizing the course schedule. this raises issues such as which novels are appropriate for Korean high school students, the criteria for the priority in which novels should be read, and what activities can be implemented for each novel. The second thing is choosing appropriate teaching methods, since the traditional method of focusing on grammar and translation can dilute th advantages of studying novels, The teacher should encourage students to read and enjoy novels on their own, then discuss and share their ideas and thoughts together. The last thing is assessment and evaluation. To be successful, lessons should be closely intertwined with assessment and also satisfy the students' urgent need to develop their English skills. To determine whether the course achieved its goal and to upgrade course materials and methods, analyzing student evaluations of the course is critical.