Using ESL literature and the principles of communicative language teachingAmong the reasons why Van (2009) believes that studying literature in the ESL classroom is beneficial (by providing meaningful contexts, a deeper range of vocabulary, enhancing creativity and developing cultural awareness and critical thinking), it mentions the fact that it fits into the principles of CLT (Communicative Language Teaching). This last point should be elaborated by specifying the ways in which literary exploration in the language classroom can go hand in hand with the main principles of CLT. Communicative language teaching (CLT) is considered an approach to language based on the theory that the primary function of language use is communication. Its main objective is for learners to develop communicative skills or abilities. In other words, its goal is to use real-life situations where communication is involved. Bradl (2008) defines communicative competence as “the ability to interpret and implement appropriate social behaviors, and it requires the active involvement of the learner in the communication process.” production of the target language. He also specifies that “such a notion encompasses a wide range of abilities: knowledge of grammar and vocabulary (linguistic competence); the ability to say the appropriate thing in a certain social situation (sociolinguistic competence); the ability to start, enter, contribute to and end a conversation, and the ability to do so coherently (discursive competence); the ability to communicate effectively and repair problems caused by communication breakdowns (strategic skill).” The type of activities that teachers can use in communicative language teaching are those that require...... middle of paper ...... fr, Piet-Hein, Doecke, Brenton (eds.). (2011). Literary praxis, a conversational inquiry into the teaching of literature. Sense Publishers, Rotterdam/Boston/TaipeiVan, TTM (2009). The relevance of literary analysis for teaching literature in the EFL classroom. English Teaching Forum, 3: 2-9.Widdowson, HG 1975. Stylistics and the teaching of literature. London: Longman Group Ltd. Widdowson, HG 1982. The use of literature. In On TESOL '81, Mary Hines and William Rutherford (Eds.), 203-214. Washington, DC: TESOL.Widdowson, HG 1983. Talking shop: on literature and ELT. Journal of English Teaching 37(1):30–35. Zoreda, LM and Vivaldo-Lima, J. (2008). Scaffolding linguistic and intercultural objectives in EFL with simplified novels and their film adaptation. English Teaching Forum, 3: 22-29. Hall, Geoff. Literature in Language Education, Palgrave Macmillan, 2005