Some people believe that it is more important to teach children the literature of their own country than other countries. Do you agree or disagree?

It is argued by some people that local

literature

is of greater importance in children’s education compared to foreign

literature

. From my perspective, I disagree with

this

view since both types of

literature

play equal roles in the development of children. On the one hand, locally written works come with numerous benefits to students.

Firstly

, these pieces of art can enrich student’s skills to use their own language. Indeed, through learning

literature

of their mother tongue, students can learn the art of using the language,

such

as the flexibility in the vocabulary highlights used, the syntax of sentences, different ways to convey ideas.

Hence

, linguistic knowledge will gradually be built up and benefit the students not only in their study but

also

in social communication.

Secondly

, national literary works to give students an insight into their own culture.

For example

, through traditional

literature

, namely fairy tales, legends and fables, students can become familiar with their traditions, native terms and

also

national values which have been passed down from generation to generation.

As a result

, they will naturally develop a sense of national identity and patriotism.

On the other hand

, studying foreign

literature

is

also

advantageous for the following reasons.

To begin

with, it gives learners opportunities to expand their horizons by showing them a bigger picture of the outside world. Having access to foreign historical events and cultures, commentaries on politics, society, and stereotypes in

literature

from countries abroad will foster students’ awareness of the diversity of the world.

Additionally

, the students will be equipped with a broader range of knowledge to help them be more prepared for the globalized world that we are living in today. To be more specific, the students will have a grasp of the culture of foreign countries and how to adapt themselves in terms of manners, customs or behaviours if they live in that new environment or dealing with foreigners. In conclusion, it seems to me that there is a need to teach both local and foreign

literature

at schools so that students can develop comprehensively.