Sommersemester 2001

African Literature for Children

Content: Course Description Course Outline Suggestions for Oral Presentations Selected Books Relevant Websites Messages

Course Description

for students from 2nd Semester, Mon 18-20, Room 41/101

Traditionally, Africans do not really distinguish between children's and adult literature; yet even in oral Africa, stories were told differently, depending on whether children were present or not, and some stories could be heard only from a certain age. Today, Africa's renowned writers as well as pedagogues use traditional stories to teach children about their heritage. We will read some of these rewritten stories, discuss their relevance as reading materials for African children, and explore practical possibilities of including these stories in the German curricula for young English learners. A reader will be made available; in addition, the following stories should be read:

• Verna Aardema. Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain. Ill. Beatriz Vidal. New York: Puffin Books, 1981.
• Tololwa M. Mollel. Rhinos for Lunch and Elephants for Supper. Ill. Barbara Spurll. New York: Clarion Books, 1991.

Course Outline

09-04, 18-19:30 h:

• Introduction: Molding the Minds of the Young--History and Purpose of Children's Literature in Europe

23-04, 18-20 h:

• Introduction: Molding the Minds of the Young--History and Purpose of Children's Literature in Africa.
• Elements of Traditional African Story-telling for Children

30-04, 18-20 h:

• The Role of Traditional Story-telling in Modern African Children's Literature
  • Chinua Achebe, The Drum
  • Chinua Achebe, „The Novelist as Teacher“

14-05, 18-20 h:

• Teaching African Children's Literature in Germany: Context and Aims
  • Chinua Achebe, The Flute

21-05, 18-20 h:

• The Art of Story-Telling in the German Classroom
  • Mamman J. Vatsa, Stinger the Scorpion
  • Stella Katengesya, Hungry Hyena

28-05, 18-20 h:

• The Art of Story-Telling in the German Classroom
  • Tololwa M. Mollel, Rhinos for Lunch and Elephants for Supper

11-06, 18-20 h:

• Adapting a Traditional African Story for the German Classroom
  • Texts from the Folktales Collection

18-06, 18-20 h:

• Developing/Adapting a Curriculum: An Example from the Kennedy Arts Edge Center Using Texts from the Folktales Collection

25-06, 18-20 h:

• Presentation of Projects

02-07, 18-20 h:

• The Situation of African Children Today: Real Life in the German Classroom?
  • Verna Aardema, Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain
• Critical Readings of African Children's Literature
  • Margaret Musgrave, From Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions
  • Ayebia Ribeiro-Ayeh, The Ashanti Golden Stool

09-07, 18-19:30 h:

• Conclusion

Suggestions for Oral Presentations

Every participant is expected to contribute to the group projects from week 7 to 9. It is possible to write a „Hausarbeit“ (for a „Schein“) based on the project you were involved in. The term paper should, in addition, provide a theoretical framework for the project (the emphasis may be on literary studies, cultural studies, or TEFL aspects). The term paper is due on 30.07.2001.

Other possible topics for term papers for which you need to do your own research:

• Children's Literature about Africa: Critical Assessment of German Children's Books

• The Interplay of Text and Image in African Children's Literature

• Gender Roles in African Children's Literature

• Story-telling in the EFL Classroom: Theoretical Background and Techniques

• Your Own Idea

Selected Books (UB Osnabrück)

Bamberg, Michael. Narrative Development: Six Approaches. Mahwah, N.J. [u.a.]: Erlbaum, 1997. Standort: Freihand-Magazin 5110-444 7

Berger, Laura Standley (ed.). Twentieth-century Children's Writers. Detroit: St. James Press, 4th ed., 1995. Standort: B DEQ 2101-451 2

Bravo-Villasante, Carmen. Weltgeschichte der Kinder- und Jugendliteratur: Versuch einer Gesamtdarstellung. Tr. Hiltrud Minwegen. Hannover: Schroedel, 1977. Standort: B BOH 4085-075 7

Doyé, Peter. The Intercultural Dimension: Foreign Language Education in the Primary School. Berlin: Cornelsen, 1999. Standort: Freihand-Magazin 5110-292 8

Egan, Kieran. Teaching as Story Telling: An Alternative Approach to Teaching and the Curriculum. London: Routledge, 1988. Standort: B ICP 4412-135 6

Ewers, Hans-Heino (ed.). Kinderliteratur im interkulturellen Prozeß: Studien zur allgemeinen und vergleichenden Kinderliteraturwissenschaft. Stuttgart [u.a.]: Metzler, 1994. Standort: B BOH 4609-332 7

Ewers, Hans-Heino. Literatur für Kinder und Jugendliche: eine Einführung in grundlegende Aspekte des Handlungs- und Symbolsystems Kinder- und Jugendliteratur. Mit einer Auswahlbibliographie Kinder- und Jugendliteraturwissenschaft. München: Fink, 2000. (UTB für Wissenschaft, Uni-Taschenbücher; 2124, Studienbücher Literatur und Medien). Standort: BBOH 5011-557 6

Fantini, Alvino E. (ed.). New Ways in Teaching Culture: Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. Alexandria, Va., 1997. (New ways in TESOL, Series 2, Innovative classroom Techniques) Standort: Freihand-Magazin 5110-455 7

Haas, Gerhard. Handlungs- und produktionsorientierter Literaturunterricht: Theorie und Praxis eines "anderen" Literaturunterrichts für die Primar- und Sekundarstufe. Seelze: Kallmeyer, 1997. (Praxis Deutsch) Standort: Freihand-Magazin 5310-691 9

Hammerschmidt, Anette C. Fremdverstehen: interkulturelle Hermeneutik zwischen Eigenem und Fremdem. München: Iudicium, 1998. Standort: Freihand-Magazin 5110-130 1

Hansen, Margarete, and Barbara Zuber. Zwischen den Kulturen: Strategien und Aktivitäten für landeskundliches Lehren und Lernen; Materialienbuch für den Unterricht. Berlin [u.a.]: Langenscheidt, 1997. Standort: Magazin 2086-577 5

Hellwig, Karlheinz. Fremdsprachen an Grundschulen als Spielen und Lernen: dargestellt am Beispiel Englisch. Ismaning: Hueber, 1995. Standort: Magazin 4675-666 4

Hunt, Peter (ed.). Children´s Literature: An Illustrated History. Oxford [u.a.]: Oxford Univ. Press, 1995. Standort: B BOH 2086-458 5

Hunt, Peter, and Sheila Ray (eds.). International Companion Encyclopedia of Children´s Literature. London: Routledge, 1996. Standort: B BOH 4694-063 2

Hunt, Peter. An Introduction to Children´s Literature. Oxford [u.a.]: Oxford Univ. Press, 1994. Standort: Freihand-Magazin 5210-368 3

Hurrelmann, Bettina (ed.). Das Fremde in der Kinder- und Jugendliteratur: interkulturelle Perspektiven. Weinheim [u.a.]: Juventa-Verl., 1998. (Symposion Deutschdidaktik, Berlin: 1996.09) Standort: B BOH 4694-705 9

Löschmann, Martin, and Magda Stroinska (eds.). Stereotype im Fremdsprachenunterricht. Frankfurt am Main [u.a.]: Lang, 1998. (Deutsch als Fremdsprache in der Diskussion; 4). Standort: Freihand-Magazin 5110-236 8

May, Jill P. Children´s Literature and Critical Theory: Reading and Writing for Understanding. New York [u.a.]: Oxford Univ. Press, 1995. Standort: Freihand-Magazin 5210-509 2

Misereor, Dritte-Welt-Haus Bielefeld (eds.). Die „Eine Welt“ im Unterricht der Grundschule: didaktische Reflexionen, Erfahrungen, Beispiele, Adressen. Aachen: Misereor, Medienproduktion und Vertriebsges., 1997. Standort: Magazin 2081-901 9; Standort: U-1 2109-914 2

Niedersächsisches Kultusministerium, Red.: Edeltraud Windolph (eds.). Didaktisch-methodische Empfehlungen für das Fremdsprachenlernen in der Grundschule. Teil A/C. Hannover: Schroedel-Schulbuchverl., 1995. Standort: Magazin 2098-383 5; Standort: Magazin 2082-423 7

Peltsch, Carsten (ed.). Auch Bilder erzählen Geschichten: Beziehungen zwischen Text und Bild im Kinder- und Jugendbuch. Weinheim: Juventa-Verlag, 1997. Standort: Magazin 4538-312 2

Pommerin, Gabriele (ed.). „Und im Ausland sind die Deutschen auch Fremde!“: Interkulturelles Lernen in der Grundschule. Frankfurt am Main: Arbeitskreis Grundschule, 1995. (Beiträge zur Reform der Grundschule; 74). Standort: B ICW A 4639-598 6; Standort: B ICW A 4639-598 6; Standort: Magazin 4639-607 9; Standort: E-5 4678-283 2

Presiwerk, Roy (ed.). The Slant of the Pen: Racism in Children's Literature. Geneva: World Council of Churches, 2nd ed., 1981.Standort: B BOH 4264-234 5

Renschler, Regula. Dritte Welt: Empfehlenswerte Kinder- und Jugendbücher. Zürich: Erklärung von Bern, 6th ed., 1983. Standort: B BOH 4213-907 8

Richter, Karin. Kinderliteratur im Unterricht: Theorien und Modelle zur Kinder- und Jugendliteratur im pädagogisch-didaktischen Kontext. Weinheim [u.a.]: Juventa-Verl., 1998. Standort: B BOH 4686-954 8

Sahr, Michael. Leseförderung durch Kinderliteratur: Märchen, Bilder- und Kinderbücher im Unterricht der Grundschule. Baltmannsweiler: Schneider-Verl. Hohengehren, 1998. Standort: BDDJ 4707-994 2

Sahr, Michael, und Monika Born. Kinderbücher im Unterricht der Grundschule. Baltmannsweiler: Schneider, 4th ed., 1996. Standort: Freihand-Magazin 5210-043 7

Sarter, Heidemarie. Fremdsprachenarbeit in der Grundschule: neue Wege, neue Ziele. Darmstadt: Wiss. Buchges., c 1997. Standort: B BFY 4696-785 1

Steedman, Carolyn (ed.). Language, Gender and Childhood. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1985. Standort: Magazin 4512-037 2

Tatar, Maria. Von Blaubärten und Rotkäppchen: Grimms grimmige Märchen. Salzburg: Residenz-Verl., 1990. Standort: B BQH 4507-117 5

Zipes, Jack. Fairy Tales and the Art of Subversion: The Classical Genre for Children and the Process of Civilization. New York: Routledge, repr. 1991. Standort: Magazin 4654-715 8

Relevant Websites

For Internet sources on African children and children's literature please check my website African Palava, Section Children (Pickin) .

Other relevant websites:

World of the Child: Two Hundred Years of Children's Books. University of Delaware Library.

Kay Vandergrift's Special Interest Page on Children's Literature. Rutgers University Library.

Children's Literature Web Guide. University of Calgary.

Schulprojekt Afrika - for German schools (though not specifically for EFL).

Animals from Africa - printouts and zoological information at Enchanted Learning.

Individual articles:

"Stories and Their Importance in Language Teaching" by Andrew Wright, Humanising Language Teaching, Year 2, Issue 5, September 2000.

"Fakelore, Multiculturalism, and the Ethics of Children's Literature" by Eliot A. Singer.

African Arts and Culture - teaching units at ARTSEDGE, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Messages

Here you will find the latest information about the course (if any), and you can post mails to me at afripalava@uganda.co.ug.

Date	Message
June 1, 2001	Dear Students, please remember to bring the collection of folk tales with you to the next session on June 11. Have a nice holiday!
April 30, 2001	Dear Students, due to lovely weather and May celebrations, attendance was very low today. We recapitulated the most important features of story telling, read an oral praise tale, discussed the influence of colonial education on African culture, analysed Achebe's "The Novelist as Teacher" and started a discussion of The Drum which we will continue in two weeks' time (Lecture 4 on May 14). Please remember to also read The Flute. If you are interested in more information about the influence of colonial education, read the following articles, both in The Arnold Anthology of Post-Colonial Literatures in English: Chinua Achebe, "What Has Literature Got to Do With It?" Ngugi wa Thiong'o, From Decolonising the Mind
April 12, 2001	Dear Students, it is not too late to join this course. The next lecture will take place on April 23, 2001, and will deal with traditional African stories for children. Feel free to come!

This page was created by Dominique Bediako on February 24, 2001.

It was last updated on June2, 2002.

The URL of this page is <http://www.oocities.org/afripalava/English Courses/AfChild.html>

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For general information on Anglophone African Literature and African Studies, please consult my website African Palava.

© Dr. Dominique Bediako, formerly Lecturer (English Literature), Osnabrueck, Germany (now Lecturer in German, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda)