Teaching the Past Simple Tense Through the Novels of Gabriel García Márquez: A Pedagogical Exploration

This study proposes a pedagogical framework for teaching the past simple tense in ESL/EFL contexts through the works of Gabriel García Márquez, including One Hundred Years of Solitude, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, and Love in the Time of Cholera. By merging literary analysis with task-based language learning, the research demonstrates how García Márquez’s repetitive use of past simple tense and non-linear storytelling provides learners with authentic, immersive grammar models. A mixed-method approach -combining textual analysis, pre/post-test assessments, and student surveys- was employed with sixty intermediate ESL learners over an eight-week intervention. Results revealed statistically significant improvements in past tense accuracy, particularly in irregular verb usage, alongside enhanced engagement and cultural awareness. However, lexical complexity and cultural references necessitated scaffolding strategies such as vocabulary pre-teaching and visual timelines. The study argues for literature-driven grammar pedagogy that prioritizes contextualized learning and intercultural competence, offering practical recommendations for integrating literature into language curricula. These findings contribute to broader discussions on interdisciplinary approaches to grammar instruction, advocating for the inclusion of literature in ESL/EFL classrooms.