英语文学阅读课程应是英语语言文学专业的主要课程之一，但是多年来文学课程在英语学科中的式微已是不争的事实。与之相关的是，英语专业学生阅读原著少，学科能力弱，人文素质培养缺少根基，在很多学校这也成为了普遍的现象。本文以华东师大英语系综合改革过程中设置的系列文学阅读课程的实践为例，阐述文学阅读课程的作用、教学过程中得到的收获与碰到的问题以及课程设置的原则，通过介绍与讨论文学阅读课程的实践探求英语专业学生的培养路径。

 In the department of English in China, it should go without doubt that the courses of literary reading ought to be the backbone of all the courses offered, but the fact is that over the past years the stress on literary reading has been on the decline. As a result, it is a familiar phenomenon that quite a few students of English major at many universities in China spend little time reading book-length English literary works. That students in the department of English are described as being poor at academic performance and critical thinking may have much to do with this phenomenon. Facing this scenario, the department of English at East China Normal University has started a reform program to change the situation. This essay makes an attempt to introduce a series of courses of literary reading offered in the reform focusing on the achievements and problems as well. It is hoped that the emphasis on the teaching of literary reading may help find a way out for the department of English for some Chinese universities.