Naslov
A Chapter on Chapter Books

Autori
Cindrić, Ivana

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Beyond the Canon (of Children's Literature) / Narančić Kovač, Smiljana - Zagreb : Zadar : Croatian Association of Researchers in Children’s Literature ; University of Zadar, 2019, 63-63

ISBN
978-953-57604-4-3

Skup
14th International Child and the Book Conference (CBC2019): Beyond the Canon (of Children’s Literature)

Mjesto i datum
Zadar, Hrvatska, 08.05.2019. - 10.05.2019

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
chapter books ; ELT ; reading ; literary competence

Sažetak
According to the Croatian curriculum for primary school (HNOS 2006, 2013), the aim of modern foreign language teaching is spoken and written communicative competence in the foreign language enriched with elements of sociocultural, intercultural and reading/literary competence. To acquire literary competence, the curriculum encourages teachers to use authentic materials such as rhymes, chants, songs, picturebooks, etc., particularly in the early years of language learning (grades 1–3). In addition to rhymes, songs, and chants, the value of picturebooks for English language teaching for young students has been confirmed by numerous studies (Bland 2013 ; Lado 2012 ; Mourao 2015 ; Narančić Kovač & Lauš 2008). Furthermore, Ellis and Brewster (2014) identify other advantages of picturebooks, such as cross-curricular goals, learning to learn diversity, intercultural awareness, authenticity, and as a challenge to the learning experience as it addresses universal themes. As students move into higher grades of primary school (4, 5, 6), it is suggested that they read a short story and/or short novel suitable to their age-level and interest. In non- ELT settings, between grades 2 and 4, children progress from the predictable plot and layout of picturebooks to chapter books. Also known as middle-grade fiction in the USA (Bland 2018), chapter books are mostly limited to the anglophone context. As such, they fall beyond the canon of children’s literature. Some examples of chapter books are The Boxcar Children, Freckle Juice, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the Amelia Bedelia series. These and other chapter books are divided into short chapters and richly illustrated, with protagonists in the 8–12 age range. Despite the mentioned transition from picturebook to chapter book, there is little reference to chapter books in the ELT setting, which questions whether chapter books can be appropriate material for use in ELT. The paper will aim to present the characteristics of chapter books from the perspective of teaching English as a foreign language and possibly position chapter books in the Croatian curriculum for the English language.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Filologija

POVEZANOST RADA