Poetry,
like the other literary genres, can be fruitfully used as a model of language
for teaching the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. The
reading and writing of poetry, classified as a literary activity, has helped to
keep this form of linguistic expression out of the typical EFL classroom while
many teachers agree that poetry promotes language acquisition. While this might
be true of poetry as a reading activity, however the use of poetry in the writing
class can provide an effective and collaborative means of language learning and
of personal expression.
In
an EFL classroom, picture poems, pattern poems and haiku can offer ways of
making English a means of personal expression, creativity and development,
serving to reduce affective barriers in a nonthreatening learning environment.
Popular song scripts can also facilitate awareness of pronunciation, intonation
and sentence flow. A broader perspective on the use of poetry in the language
classroom can lead to meaningful and successful language learning. It is
important that texts should provide good potential for a variety of classroom activities
in order to give students more chance to gain true familiarity with any work as
a whole. Most importantly, the texts should have the capacity to engage the
interest of the students.
How to use poetry in the language classroom
Here
are some ways poetry can be used perfectly in a language classroom.
1. By establishing theme: EFL teachers can teach with a theme and its
accompanying guiding questions of a poem. The perfect poem, however, can lead to a
wonderful writing reflection or discussion that allows students to construct
the theme and essential questions for themselves.
2. Focusing on facts:
Creating poetry is a wonderful way for students to share information they learned
through class or independent study. Teachers can bring life to otherwise dry
and lifeless facts in an EFL classroom!
3. Inspiring writing:
Poetry shouldn’t be just a part of the language arts curriculum. It offers another
way to communicate and demonstrate our understanding of a concept in content areas.
It is a method for deepening comprehension and developing a level of empathy
and knowledge that can be applied to
real-world situations. Poem can be used to informally assess science and math.
It can help students link content areas.
4.New perspectives:
One of poetry’s transcendent powers is its ability to consider issues from new
perspectives. Poetry open students eyes to new ways of seeing.
5. Igniting curiosity:
Much has been said in educational texts about inquiry learning. Students are naturally
inquisitive, and there is not much more we need to do but focus their natural curiosity.
Poetry can do this!
Using
poetry in the classroom is a great tool but we cannot forget that right
material should be selected, so students can maximize their learning. It has to
be interesting and adequate for each student level, reading about new thing is
usually interesting for students.
Using
poetry in the classroom is a great tool but we cannot forget that right
material should be selected, so students can maximize their learning. It has to
be interesting and adequate for each student level, reading about new thing is
usually interesting for students.
The benefits of using poetry in a
language classroom:
Poetry is a way for teaching and
learning basic skills. It can be used as an enjoyable and a rewarding tool with
the properties of rhyming and rhythm . It helps students to easily learn with
the supra- segmental aspect of the target language,such as stress,pitch,intonation.
The most important benefits of using
poetry in language classroom are as follows:
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It encourages creative writing.
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It helps students to appreciate sound
words and patterns.
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It develops phonic skill.
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It makes students to express their feelings and opinions.
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It provides a great opportunity to play with language.
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It reinforces the ability to think and to experiment with students understanding
of the world.
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It helps to acquire vocabulary.
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Poetry is the most concentrated form of literature and says it in fewer words
and in less space.
#It
generates collaborative activities.
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Poem helps to develop oral and mental capacities.
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Poems often enhance students to make confident
interpretations, as their personal opinion is vital.
Thus, it can be said that poems and
songs suitable for the target group can be successfully used to achieve
objectives if used properly and systematically.
