The use of novel in creating the independent reader:A study on personal construct theory and reader-response approach

The teaching of language and related studies conducted by the researchers having concentrated on the significant points of the issue have invariably occupied a remarkable place while the teaching of literature manifests itself as the field upon which many more researches should be done for a better comprehension of it. Thus, it is right to emphasis that there has been an obvious need of increase in the amount of qualitative research on the teaching of literature. Relevant to that, the present study aims to focus on the importance of perceptions of students upon the examination of a novel in a literature class in accordance with the purpose of making them realize the power they have as independent learners. In addition, the study investigates whether there is a difference in their perceptions of themselves as independent learners following the literature sessions held as a vital part of the present study. It also paves the way for the realization of the similarities they bear and the contrasts they pose to each other with their contribution of the present study as the sole decision-makers of the meaning of the novel analyzed during the process. The study of consists of 10 English Language Learners of Upper Intermediate Level Istanbul Aydın University, Prep School. The data were collected with the sessions held, the multiple-choice questionnaire and the response papers they submitted after each literature session. The study of the data collected exhibited varying perceptions of the learners upon the analysis of the novel chosen and reflected the different ways in which they think about the world. KEY WORDS: 1. Novel 2. Independent Reading 3. Reader Response Theory 4. Personal Construct Theory