Innovation vs. canonisation : foreign literature content in the Algerian degree of English

Abstract EN

The present paper discusses the content of foreign literature syllabus in the frame of the Algerian university degree of English studies raising three questions : What are the goals that shape the design of the foreign literature syllabus ? On which ground do canonized texts gain institutional interest? and What should be the profile of the syllabus designers ? Not only did the investigation’s findings reveal that the syllabus content does not take into consideration the student’s future professional needs, but it also demonstrated that most teachers proceed to manoeuvre so as to cope with the students expectations. Thus, the recommendations from this study are twofold : first, to develop a well structured theoretical frame able to reshape the goals of the foreign literature syllabus ; second, to enhance a more beneficial result in teaching this literature.