Enhancing Students’ Interest in Literature through Literary Tourism

Abstract

In contemporary society, the decline in reading habits, often attributed to the pervasive influence of technology, is a well-documented phenomenon. At the same time, statistics show a drop in the number of students choosing Literature as their major field of study, which is presumably driven by a perceived lack of practical value in the field, with students increasingly opting for scientific disciplines. Given this context, it becomes imperative for us as educators to find new ways of reigniting students’ interest in literary works. This paper aims to investigate strategies for achieving this goal, by suggesting literary tourism and exploring its educational potential which seems to be under-researched despite the growing interest about literary tourism during the last few years. Drawing on the theory of experiential learning, this paper claims that by actively involving pupils in literary experiences beyond the confines of the classroom, such as organizing school trips to literary sites, may not only promote active learning, better understanding, and retention of knowledge, but also cultivate appreciation for and enthusiasm in engaging with literature.