Teaching English language arts (ELA) in ESL classes: integrating literature, poetry, and drama for language development

Language teaching is a complex and dynamic process that requires a lot of effort in lesson planning with the integration of various innovative methods into the classroom. The pursuit of the best approaches for teaching EFL has been the focus of English experts in recent years as these elements continually evolve and shape literacy practices, positively affecting both the content and instruction within the English language arts classroom. This article investigates the integration of drama, poetry, and literature elements from English Language Arts (ELA) into EFL instruction for elementary students. It explores how ELA integration can enhance students’ communicative competence, critical thinking, creativity, and expressive language use.