Activities for Teaching Literature in a EFL Classroom

1. Design a newspaper or magazine: Using Publisher, Adobe, or any other

program, create a newspaper for the setting of the novel (town, city, state, or general area), and write brief news and feature stories about the different characters and events. Also include appropriate advertisements and, of course, photos and/or other images.

2. Write a movie script: Write a movie script, concentrating on one or two key
scenes in the novel, and then create costumes for the characters, act out the scenes, and videotape the movie for presentation to the class. You can also write a movie script, but change the novels setting to a different time (past or future) and place; for example, set Charles Dickens Oliver Twist in 2030, on Mars or even aboard a spaceship.

3. TV sitcom: Develop a pilot for a TV sitcom based upon the characters. Write
the script, concentrating on one or perhaps two key events, which may be modified for creative purposes, assign roles, and then film the pilot for presentation to the class. (Students could also present the show in a live performance.)

4. Selling a novel: Create an advertising campaign to promote sale of the novel,

including a poster for a bookstore, informative brochures telling about the characters, setting, important events and dates, commercials for radio and television, and ads for a magazine and a newspaper advertisement.

5. Design a board game: Design a board game based upon characters and key
events in the novel. Include not only the board for playing but also rules and clear directions.

6. Design a comic: Create a comic book based upon the novel, depicting major
characters as superheroes and including key events from the storyline, albeit with a little creative license.

7. Make a webpage / Blog: Develop a website that provides an overview of the

novel, its characters, and key events. In case of a blog, include questions about the plot, characters and events to foster discussion.

8. Make a talk show: Create a talk show with the novels main characters as
guests. Interview the guests, asking them questions about their behavior and key events in the novel. Film the talk show to present it to the class.

9. Dress up and throw a party: Allow students to choose a character from the
story and create a costume for that character. Then, hold a party where all the characters attend in the classroom. Serve snacks and allow students to share a little about the characters they represent.

10.Wall display: Allow your students to represent the novel on a wall. Tell them
to draw pictures about it, write important lines of the plot, etc.

11.Story puzzle: A great way to conclude your study of a book is to have

students make story puzzles that depict from four to more key turning points in the story. They can also be used to show theme progression or evolution of character.