El uso de la literatura como material auténtico en la enseñanza de ELE

Abstract

The role of literature in Spanish as a Foreign Language (SFL) teaching continues to be a relevant topic in language education, particularly regarding its impact on student motivation and learning. While literary texts are sometimes perceived as challenging, research highlights their value as authentic and meaningful resources. This study investigates how upper-secondary Swedish students perceive the use of literature in the SFL classroom and examines its effect on their motivation and linguistic development. A mixed-methods questionnaire was administered to 27 students in Spanish level 4, descriptive statistics were applied to the quantitative data, and the open-ended responses were analysed to complement the numerical findings. The findings show that most students view literature as beneficial for developing vocabulary, reading comprehension, and cultural awareness, though a minority experience it as difficult. Overall, the study suggests that literature has strong potential as an authentic material in ELE, but its effectiveness depends on careful text selection and alignment with students’ interests and proficiency levels.