Foreign Languages in Bhagat Phool Singh Mahila Vishwavidayalaya

ABSTRACT Having known the fact that mother tongue helps a great deal in second language acquisition, indigenous literature plays an important role in teaching referential and representational functions of communication in target language. Literature, whether canonical or not, can make positive contributions to the language class by being motivating and thought provoking. It helps in: -providing meaningful (and memorable) contexts for new vocabulary and structures, thus encouraging language acquisition and expanding students' language awareness -developing students' procedural abilities to interpret discourse -providing access to new socio-cultural meanings, offering opportunities for the development of cultural awareness -stimulating the imagination, as well as critical and personal response, thus contributing to the major aim of educating the whole person Indigenous literature especially in oral tradition (fairy tales (folk narratives), folk tales, myths, legends and fables) continues to entertain and delight learners, embodying both the emotional and spiritual truths of mankind. The grand narratives like Ramayana, Mahabharta, Panchtantra, Jataka Kathas etc can be used as teaching resources in ELT classrooms for enhancing communicative competence of our learners. My paper discusses the role of indigenous literature especially oral literature in ELT classrooms