Selecting Children's Literature for an English Curriculum Using Junior High English XI

Abstract

This study selected children's literature for an English language curriculum, using the English textbook Junior High English. The study was based on the urban Chinese English curriculum outlines. This study integrated the children's literature with the English textbook for middle school students in the Huairou school district. Six lesson plans for this English text book were presented. The study demonstrated which children's literature can be applied to English as a foreign language classes, how well the sample ofbooks supports the EFL curriculum, which includes six themes: School Life, Occupations, Family, Food, Sports and Colors, how children's literature written in English can be integrated into the EFL curriculum. Categories of research presented in this literature review are the Beijing EFL textbook (Junior High English XI), the set-up of the English course in Huairou school district, defining children's literature, using children's literature in EFL classrooms, guiding students to use children's literature, what students can achieve, assessing selected children's literature, sources, and activities integrated with children's literature in EFL classes. The study supports that when English teachers apply the criteria for book selection as recommended in this study, give students guidance with children's literature, take students' interest into consideration, change the activities to maintain students' concentration and interest, and use the sources effectively, students in EFL classes will benefit in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and becoming multiculturally aware.