Teaching poetry in the EFL classroom

Plisson, Janika (author), Blake, Jason Frederick (mentor)

The aim of this master’s thesis is to explore why poetry should be used in the EFL classroom as well as to suggest how it can be used as a fruitful and pleasurable experience. Numerous sources can be found on teaching English poetry in the mother tongue but there are fewer materials focusing on teaching poetry in the foreign language classroom. Nevertheless, the abundance of materials for teaching English poetry in the mother tongue can easily be adapted for usage in the EFL classroom. Based on the research into the theoretical approaches to teaching poetry, this master’s thesis puts forward a combination of the most suitable methods to be used in the primary and secondary EFL classroom. The benefits and drawbacks of teaching poetry as defined by such researchers and authors as Louise M. Rosenblatt, H. G. Widdowson, Michael Benton, Geoff Fox, Linda Hall, Alan Maley and Alan Duff are explored, as well as some of their practical ideas for teaching poetry. Due consideration is given to factors of teaching poetry that include teaching method, choice of text and choice of activity. The unique and privileged position of poetry in Steiner-Waldorf schools is investigated and given due validation, as poetry in Steiner-Waldorf schools remains en essential part of the curriculum throughout primary and secondary school. The multifaceted and pleasurable task of exploring poetry in the primary and secondary EFL classroom ascribes to poetry an indispensable role on the language learning journey.

• Language: English
• Keywords: role of poetry, poetry teaching, EFL classroom, primary school, secondary school
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Typology: 2.09 - Master's Thesis
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Year: 2024
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-159581
• COBISS.SI-ID: 202459907
• Publication date in RUL: 12.07.2024

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Poučevanje poezije pri pouku angleščine kot tujega jezika

Abstract

Namen tega magistrskega dela je raziskati, zakaj je potrebno poezijo uporabljati v tujejezični angleški učilnici ter predlagati, kako jo lahko uporabimo kot plodno in prijetno izkušnjo. O poučevanju angleške poezije v maternem jeziku je mogoče najti številne vire, manj pa je gradiv, ki se osredotočajo na poučevanje poezije v tujejezični učilnici. Kljub temu je obilico gradiva za poučevanje angleške poezije v maternem jeziku mogoče enostavno prilagoditi za uporabo v tujejezični učilnici. Magistrsko delo na podlagi raziskave teoretičnih pristopov k poučevanju poezije predlaga kombinacijo najprimernejših metod za uporabo v osnovnošolski in srednješolski tujejezični angleški učilnici. Raziskane so prednosti in slabosti poučevanja poezije, kot so jih opredelili različni raziskovalci in avtorji, kot so Louise M. Rosenblatt, H. G. Widdowson, Michael Benton, Geoff Fox, Linda Hall, Alan Maley, Alan Duff, ter nekatere njihove praktične zamisli za poučevanje poezije. Ustrezno so upoštevani nekateri dejavniki poučevanja poezije, kot so učna metoda, izbira besedila in izbira dejavnosti. Edinstven in privilegiran položaj poezije v waldorfskih šolah je raziskan in ustrezno podprt, saj ostaja poezija v waldorfskih šolah kljub priljubljenim literarnim teorijam in trendom poučevanja bistveni del učnega načrta v osnovni in srednji šoli. Večplastna in prijetna naloga raziskovanja poezije v osnovnošolski ter srednješolski tujejezični angleški učilnici poeziji pripisuje nepogrešljivo vlogo na poti učenja jezikov.

• Keywords: vloga poezije, poučevanje poezije, tujejezična angleška učilnica, osnovna šola, srednja šola