[ELTWeekly Volume 6, Issue 10 | March 31, 2014 | ISSN 0975-3036]
A Poetry is a piece of writing in which words are arranged beautifully and rhythmically. We have recently celebrated World Poetry Day on 21st March and suddenly this thought come into my mind to write something on this topic. Studying and writing poetry can give expression and communication to the students and teachers both. We need poetry to promote language teaching emotionally and holistically. Poetry helps to use Figure of Speech, Adjectives, Phrases and symbolic words spontaneously to show feelings. When we read, listen or write something aloud and rhythmically we easily learn it.
- A student can use and fit words in poetic composition.
- Correct use of vocabulary and grammatically correct language can be learned.
- Students can learn use of Thesaurus, Phrases, structure, verb and tenses.
- Nurture student’s imagination and creativity as well as build their confidence level.
These are the basic uses poetry can bring into EET( Effective English Teaching). It brings emotions, rhyme and congenial expression in classroom.
I personally teach undergraduates whose mother tongue is Non English and most of them are from semi-rural background. When University erase Poetry for III Year students, the classroom teaching became dull and monotonous as poetic composition make understanding easier and freeflowing. When students are asked to imagine and explain , they easily use words, structures and constructions flawlessly. And finding their creativity apt and appropriate, they are boost up. Poetry plays vital role in teaching use of Phrases, structures and construction also.
Poetry develops an understanding of texts and their use in language classrooms. Use of grammar is not easy for Non English background students but they too can exercise it well in poetry. We must not forget our oldest technique NARRATIVE in which tales were sung by people who are not literate even, but their compositions were par excellence. Even Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey were also written in this form and they are unparalleled even now. Similarly ‘Shi’ in China and Tanka in Japan are still popular as they are unrhymed poetic compositions which impart knowledge poetically to all.
Poetry and related activities can play an important role in EET and learning. I have read that many of popular Pop Albums(popular music of today) are the outcome of practice of vocabulary and rhyming words as walking/talking, humming/coming, chance/dance and many more. So, poems and related exercises in classrooms can enhance EET. We as teachers must focus on words, their correct use and construction. Students will understand meaningful and relevant use of language as poetry awakens our senses and help to build oral language skill. It offers wonderful opportunities for expansion of vocabulary and to work with rhyme and rhythm it is so versatile that it opens innumerable openings for teachers and students both. So, April can always be celebrated as the Month of Poetry.