English is something we can play with.
Exploring how poetry, performance and play can enrich English learning.
Why Poetry?
Poetry helps English learners…
Develop a feel for the language
Noticing how words sound together, how rhythm and emphasis create meaning, and how language can be used for different purposes.
Practise pronunciation naturally
Through rhythm, stress, connected speech, chanting and performance. They learn how English sounds while actually using it.
Remember and play with language
Making connections, experimenting with words and discovering how English works. What they play with, they often remember.
Experiment without fear of mistakes
Using creativity, imagination and play to take risks with language. The question stops being “Is this right or wrong?” and becomes “What can I do with this language?”
Become more confident speakers and readers
Developing fluency, expression, voice and a feel for the language. They grow more confident speaking in public and reading aloud.
Discover that English can be creative
English becomes something to enjoy, perform and make their own. It moves beyond exam results and becomes a tool for self-expression.
“Poetry isn’t an extra subject.
It’s another way of teaching language.”
Alan McGuire
Editor, Poetically English
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