ASSESSING THE SUITABILITY OF LITERARY MATERIALS TO STUDENTS CULTURAL BACKGROUND AND LINGUISTIC ABILITY AND THE CHALLENGES OF TEACHING THESE MATERIALS: IN CASE OF ARBAMINCH SECONDARY AND PREPARATORY SCHOOL GRADE 11 TEXT BOOK IN FOCUS

Abstract

This study attempted to assess the suitability and challenges of teaching the literary materials to students’ cultural background and linguistic ability. The study was conducted in Arba Minch Secondary and preparatory school in Grade 11, with a population of three teachers and ninety two students. A total of 92 students responded to the questionnaire, and all the 3 teachers were interviewed. The descriptive design was employed in the study. Document analysis, questionnaire and structured interview were used as instruments of data collection in the study. The students were selected by systematic sampling techniques whereas the interviewed teachers were selected by comprehensive sampling techniques. The mixed method approach was used to analyze the data. Triangulation involved in the above mentioned research instruments like textbook analysis, questionnaires, and interviews to assured the consistency of the findings. The findings of the study revealed that linguistically appropriate literary texts provided in the textbook, however, according to the result of document analysis some of the liteliterary texts are linguistically difficult to the students. Although some of the appropriate literary texts are given in the students textbook, while teachers faced with several challenges to teach them. For instance; low interest and motivation of the students to learn literary materials, also low proficiency of the students, their lack of background knowledge toward literary texts, lack of knowhow to language teachers regarding to teach literary materials. Therefore, the researcher recommended that Curriculum designers, textbook writers and evaluators should make decision in selecting literary materials which are suitable to the students’ language proficiency level .Also the textbook writers and evaluators should consider the appropriateness of language and vocabulary while they are selecting literary materials. On the other hand, Teachers should carefully adapt or substitute inappropriate literary texts with other literary texts which are at the students