This Is Just to Tell You (abt poetry, projects & power) by Chuck Sandy 

Patrolena

1. I think students can learn how to be creative and have fun by using poetry in the classroom. It gives them a chance to express their own ideas and thoughts whether they are reading or writing poetry. Students might learn vocabulary and rhyming or line structures. They can also improve their pronuciation, intonation and reading and writing skills by using … See morepoetry.

2) I have used poetry but only a few very easy poems because my students have a very low proficiency level. If I should teacher higher grade learners I would definitely use more poems because it can give students an opportunity to think, reflect and express their ideas, thoughts and feelings.

5) A poem is a structured and rhythmic form of expression of someone's thoughts. A prose on the other hand is simple, common language and not very expressive. This form of communication is used in magazines, newspapers and even encyclopedias.

2658 days 21 hours 1 minutes ago

Ashley Van Oordt

1) What things might English language learners learn from using English language poetry in the classroom?
In my opinion, learners can discover new vocabulary, sentence structure, substitution drills and
intonation, just to name a few, from doing poetry in the classroom. Though, the level of learners ability
should be considered when poems are chosen for a specific class.

2) Have you ever used any poetry in your classes? Why or why not?
No, not yet. Although, I feel that's poetry can be utilized quite well in the classroom to help learners
develop all the areas of language development.

3) What's your favorite poem in English. Please link to it online if possible or else type the poem out in your
answer. Then say why it's your favorite. What do you like about it? How does it speak to you?
One of my favorite English poems is, "The road not taken", by Robert Frost. The link is
http://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/frost/section7.rhtml… See more I feel that life is full of choices and challenges.
We should choose wisely when we get to a fork in the road of"life's" and then learn to be content with
our choices. If we regret our choices all the time, we will not be internally happy.

2660 days 16 hours 40 minutes ago

Shadi Saba

1) What things might English language learners learn from using English language poetry in the classroom?
I think they can learn intonation and some additional vocabulary.

2) Have you ever used any poetry in your classes? Why or why not?
No, I haven't. Thought it might be too confusing for the students.

3) What… See more's your favorite poem in English. Please link to it online if possible or else type the poem out in your answer. Then say why it's your favorite. What do you like about it? How does it speak to you?
"I Hear America Singing" by Walt Whitman. I like how he writes about blue collar America. It makes me think about how things used to be, in the simpler times.

2793 days 15 hours 32 minutes ago

Judith Yoana Moya Mosquera

1) What things might English language learners learn from using English language poetry in the classroom?
I think they can improve their understanding of how the language works (grammar, pragmatics, vocabulary, etc), while doing these things, they will also improve their writing skills.

2) Have you ever used any poetry in your classes? Why or why not?
To be honest, I’ve never used it and this is because I’ve not seen its importance or value as I see it now thanks to you, Chuck. I’m learning and though I used to write things like that, I stopped doing it and I think it has also affected my teaching experience. Sorry, I’ll try to make it right.

3) What's your favorite poem in English. Please link to it online if possible or else type the poem out in your answer. Then say why it's your favorite. What do you like about it? How does it speak to you?
Although I don’t really have a favorite poem in English, I searched and found one that pleased me a lot and this is A Farewell from Amy Levy; you can see it on this link http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-farewell-5/… See more, and I liked it because it is simple but emotive. I particularly like the third and four parts; some people can have friends indeed and no honor, while others have honor, glorious honor and not friends, and others, perhaps not so popular, have both and those are the greatest ones. It’s so sad to leave, but even sadder is to leave knowing you’ve not gotten two precious things in life: friends and honor (respect, admiration, etc). I think this was a very tragic farewell Amy had to face. My desire and I think my purpose in life is to be a blessing for others, that’s why I have friends and honor, and thank God for it and I know every time I have to face a farewell, I’m leaving behind friends and a good reputation, but there are still people to be blessed and enter into my friends circle; there’s no intention of honor, for this is the result of simply doing what you have to do (your best), but it is appreciated, therefore there’s no strain or sorrow.


TASKS
1) Explore the videos at The Favorite Poem Project http://www.favoritepoem.org Choose one you like and write a few sentences explaining what you like about it.
I like I'M NOBODY! WHO ARE YOU? By Emily Dickinson
And let me tell you this is a terrific description of what and how people think and see others around. This is like not trying to impress other people around you, because they’re nothing but a swamp, they have no value and it’s not worthy to waste your time trying to make them see your someday, you’re capable of great things, because maybe they’re just blind or fearful of your great capacity to be and do what they couldn’t, and so be ashamed. It’s also like a sarcastic way to battle against those who tell you can’t or you’re nothing, a way to protect you from their prognoses concerning your present or your future. However, for me being somebody is not dreary, at least if you’re not trying to be someone for the sake or will of people around you. This is your own choice and in the end you’re the latter beneficiary for good or for bad.

Thank you. I'm still learning about poetry.

2833 days 18 hours 12 minutes ago

Evgeniy Kalashnikov

1. Rhythm, vocabulary, intonation , thinking skills (predicitig the theme reasoning from the title), writing.
2. I used poetry, for example, as a running dictation and then this piece of poetry was a lead-in to a topic for a term.
3. I like lots of poetry: one of my favourite writers is a Russian/American poet Joseph Brodsky. One of my favourite poems of his is "A SONG"
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-song-3/… See more
I like the message of it. When a memory of a loved one is so powerful that it defines your whole being, is it possible to forget them? The narrator illustrates the closeness of his existence to his love. The borders of two individuals long merged into one, her memories immortalized in him.
5. http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/p-as_docs/PoetryandProse.pdf But I know that there's prose poetry. For example, http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/171732

2839 days 8 hours 44 minutes ago

Amandeep Singh

1) What things might English language learners learn from using English language poetry in the classroom?
English language learners can learn about pronunciation, intonation, rhythm, vocabulary, pace etc.
2) Have you ever used any poetry in your classes? Why or why not?
Yes, i have used poetry in class. But generally i use poetry given in the syllabus.
3)What's your favorite poem in English. Please link to it online if possible or else type the poem out in your answer. Then say why it's your favorite. What do you like about it? How does it speak to you?
All the world's a stage by William Shakespeare
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/all-the-world-s-a-stage/

2841 days 9 hours 43 minutes ago

Miguel Talk

1) What things might English language learners learn from using English language poetry in the classroom?
English language learners can learn about English collocations, can also learn about pace and about intonation when using English language poetry in the classroom

2) Have you ever used any poetry in your classes? Why or why not?
I've used songs in the classroom, because the students asked for them. I haven't used poetry in class, but I'll use it as soon as they ask for it.

3) What's your favorite poem in English. Please link to it online if possible or else type the poem out in your answer. Then say why it's your favorite. What do you like about it? How does it speak to you?
http://shelsilversteinpoems.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/early-bird/… See more
I like the repetition of the “early bird” and also the visual contrast between an early bird and a worm that sleeps late.
How it speaks to me: Sleeping in is what a worm does if it doesn't want to be caught by an early bird. I like to sleep in.


TASK
1) Explore the videos at The Favorite Poem Project http://www.favoritepoem.org Choose one you like and write a few sentences explaining what you like about it.
http://www.favoritepoem.org/poem_AyAyAydelaGrifaNegra.html
I enjoyed listening to the poem both in English (translated) and in Spanish (original language). It also inspired me for a lesson (my students are Spanish). First listen to it in English and grasp the main topic, then listen to it again in English to try and grasp some more details. Finally listen to it in Spanish and compare the vocabulary with the English version.

2) Read Chuck's iTDi blog post on using poetry in the classroom at http://itdi.pro/blog/2014/07/11/movement-rhyme-and-rhythm-in-elt-chuck/ and leave a comment at the bottom of that post.
Chuck Sandy’s lesson is about FINDING the movement, rhyme and rhythm in poems. I like how he emphasizes the word BRING.
How could I BRING this poem to my lesson? By letting the students do the FINDING.
Thanks for the lesson, Chuck!

2844 days 2 hours 55 minutes ago

Mamadou Dia Bodian

Poetry is an efficient way of improving learners speaking and reading skils, even writing competence.

2848 days 7 hours 19 minutes ago

Rada Bjelic

1) Students can profit a lot from using/reading poetry – e. g. they can improve their speaking and reading skills – work on pronunciation, intonation (rhythm, stress), expand their vocabulary; they can use it to analyse/recognise patterns, structure, look for deeper meaning…but also to improve their writing.
2) Yes, for example, poems containing riddl… See morees (to bring the element of fun), those containing a lot of repetition and rhymes (for young learners), those having deeper meaning (to improve students’ critical thinking)…
5) There are a lot of definitions of a poem, these are the two I like: “a painting in words” and “a medium for self-expression” – it has verses, it doesn’t always have rhymes, it’s more about emotions and the author’s state of mind…while prose is a form of natural speech, it’s not rhythmic; it is usually split into paragraphs (not verses)…it’s like a story..

2848 days 9 hours 49 minutes ago

Christina Chorianopoulou

1) What things might English language learners learn from using English language poetry in the classroom?
Poetry as a learning aid is to me another invitation to explore the language and one of the purest and most honest forms of expression. Language learners can build a better understanding of the language, how and why we use it, they explore structures, they start building on coherence and (non)accuracy; they learn not to fear using the language and become aware that they are allowed to playfully explore it further.

2) Have you ever used any poetry in your classes? Why or why not?
Yes, with both young and adult learners, because I find that their personal input and individual interpretations are extremely beneficial in a language course. We all encourage our students to ''think outside the box'', we invite them to feel and work on those emotions along with us; with poetry, the ''box'' is obscured, almost eliminated and we are left to work purely on our own insight, culture and feelings.
Even though I love using poetry, it's still a very intimidating process - I'm never certain on how it will work out and whether I will actually be able to assess the work students contribute to the lesson.

3) What's your favorite poem in English. Please link to it online if possible or else type the poem out in your answer. Then say why it's your favorite. What do you like about it? How does it speak to you?
''On imagination'' by Phillis Wheatley (http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/webtexts/Wheatley/imagination.html… See more)
I love it because of the endless story it tells; because the pictures and emotions portrayed within are simply immeasurable. Because, combined with the poet's background and culture, it reminds me that no form of slavery can suppress creativity, imagination and the will to pursue your dreams.

4) Write a few sentences about the following poem "Gratitude to Old Teachers. What's it about? What does it make you think about? Who do you think about when you read it? What does a frozen lake, water, and the stillness have to do with teaching and learning? Anything?
It makes me think of the journeys we all take through life. That we're faced with challenges and look for someone to stand by our side. It makes me remember that our work as teachers, guides, facilitators really matters and touches the future of our students, even if we'd have to be dragged out of the deepest waters of their memory; we might find ourselves out of step and falling into ''frozen lakes'' of difficulties, but we have our own guides to turn to.

2853 days 7 hours 48 minutes ago