ABSTRACT
The chapter addresses the pros and cons of using literature in language teaching. Insights from the fields of Applied Linguistics and English language teaching are incorporated in communicative language teaching (CLT) to suggest how and to what extent literature can be used communicatively. The argument that literature requires a unique treatment in CLT is established to demystify and invalidate some of the misconceptions regarding the use of literature in teaching foreign languages. The chapter critically examines the newly designed textbook English for Today: Classes XI–XII & Alim (2015, reprint 2018) (henceforth, EfT). Using ‘impressionistic method’ of materials evaluation in the light of the theories introduced, the chapter presents the findings to assert that literary materials could have been used more effectively in EfT. Factors responsible for such non-fulfilment are implicated through the theoretical analysis of the findings, leading to a set of constructive suggestions for multiple stakeholders of EfT.
