Are you excited about using literature and stories in language lessons, but struggling to find the right activities to do so? Would you like to learn more about structuring a lesson around fiction, or even entire book-themed conversation courses? Then this workshop is for you!

During this workshop, the trainer will guide you through the whole process of using a book or short story as a teaching tool. You’ll start with the question of why to use novels and fiction as a teaching tool for your class. Then you’ll explore the ideal structure of a book-themed lesson or course and examples of activities for different parts and goals. You will also discuss how to select the right materials and what to avoid. Along the way, you’ll learn more about linguistic insights relating to styles and historical periods to help you choose a book based on your teaching objectives. The workshop will be task-based, alternating between peer-work sessions in small groups or pairs and plenary feedback sessions.

This workshop is aimed at experienced teachers who are looking for new challenges and are curious about new techniques and ideas for conversation lessons with a cultural focus. The workshop will be in English, but teachers of all languages are welcome.

Preparation

Before the session, the trainer will email one or two passages for participants to read in preparation for the workshop.

The trainer

Marzia Ruta is an Italian teacher at Taalhuis Amsterdam and has worked as a teacher in Amsterdam and Bologna for over ten years. She has studied Literature and Humanities with a strong focus on Cultural Studies and holds an MA in Cinema Studies as well as a degree in teaching Italian as a second and foreign language. Literature and novels are her true passion and she has been teaching Italian book club courses at Taalhuis since she joined the school in 2018. Marzia believes that literature and works of fiction are an excellent tool for students, not only to deepen their understanding of a foreign language, but also to appreciate the connections between a literary work and the culture of the country that produced it, whilst taking into account the historical period and transmedia connections.