Fostering literacy in adolescent EFL classrooms: An overview of techniques and teaching ideas

Abstract

This article discusses the importance of focused literacy instruction in foreign language teaching, in particular when working with adolescent learners. It first provides an overview of current definitions of literacy, pointing out the expansion from a narrow notion of literacy as the ability to read and write to the more current holistic views encompassing critical thinking and problem solving skills, and cultural and digital literacies. Focusing on English as a foreign language (EFL), the authors discuss specific examples of activities and strategies that support the development of literacy in the foreign language classroom.