The major barriers that impede the teaching and learning of literature : the case of the second year English LMD students at the university of mascara

الملخص EN

The present study examines the major barriers that impede the teaching and learning of literature at Mustapha Stambouli university of Mascara, and seeks to provide some solutions that would be valuable for surpassing them.

It attempts to spot the obstacles that stand as a stumbling rock in front of both the teacher and learner of literature.

For that aim, a questionnaire, as a primary data source, was addressed to a total of 155 students enrolled for the academic year 2014-2015, among which only 89 students responded.

Interviews with teachers, practitioners and nonpractitioners (i.e.

those who are specialized in the field of literature and those who are not) were adopted by the researchers.

Besides, class observation was included in the study, as well.

The findings reveal that the misapprehension of the advantages of literature is a major obstacle with 48%, followed by the non-accordance of the selected texts with students’ needs with 29%, and the difficulty of literary texts with14%.

The demotivation of students is eventually left with 9%