i-manager Publications

Students’ attitudes towards the use of poetry in second language classrooms

Ardeshir Danesh*, Servat Shirkhani**

* Faculty of Foreign Languages, Boroujerd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Boroujerd, Iran.

** Faculty of Foreign Languages, Khorram Abad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khoram Abad, Iran.

Periodicity:April - June'2015
DOI : https://doi.org/10.26634/jelt.5.2.3406

Abstract

This study investigates learners' attitudes towards poetry in foreign language learning. 63 Engineering Students at Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch attended the study. The instrument used in the study was a questionnaire designed by the researchers for the purpose of this study. The questionnaire consisted of 12 questions regarding the subjects' attitudes towards poetry. The analysis of the data revealed that while the students are mostly interested in Persian poetry, only about one third are interested in English poetry. Therefore, their lack of interest in English poetry can be due to their problem in reading English poetry which has been confirmed by the analysis of their answers to a related item on the questionnaire. Based on the results of the study, the subjects do not strongly relate their inability in understanding English poetry to any of the reasons referred to in the questionnaire, i.e. containing a lot of new words, being based on a different culture, and not understanding Persian poetry. Despite their lack of interest and understanding in English poetry, a considerable percent of the students believe that English poetry helps the development of various aspects of the foreign language.

Keywords

Poetry, Language Teaching, Learner Attitudes, Literature

How to Cite this Article?

Danesh, A., and Shirkhani, S. (2015). Students’ attitudes towards the use of poetry in second language classrooms. i-manager’s Journal on English Language Teaching, 5(2), 28-33. https://doi.org/10.26634/jelt.5.2.3406

References

[1]. Akyel, A., &Yalcin, E. (1990). “Literature in the EFL class: A study of goal-achievement incongruence”. ELT Journal, Vol.44(3), pp.174-180.

[2]. Adeyanju, T. K. (1978). “Teaching literature and human values in ESL: Objectives and selection”. ELT Journal, Vol.32 (2), pp.133-138.

[3]. Arthur, B. (1968). “Reading literature and learning a second language”. Language Learning, Vol.18(4).

[4]. Baker, C. (1988). “Key Issues in Bilingualism and Bilingual Education”. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.

[5]. Baker, C. (1993). “Foundation of bilingual education and bilingualism”. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.

[6]. Brown, H. D. (2000). “Principles of language learning and teaching”. New York: Pearson.

[7]. Finch, A. (2003). “Using poems to teach English”. English Language Teaching, Vol.15(2), pp.29 - 45.

[8]. Hirvela, A.,& Boyle, J. (1988). “Literature courses and student attitudes”. ELT Journal, Vol.42(3).

[9]. Khatib, M. (2011). “A new approach to teaching English poetry to EFL students”. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, Vol.2(1), pp.164-169.

[10]. Longman dictionary of contemporary English. (1989). Essex: Longman.

[11]. Povey, J. F. (1967). “Literature in TESOL programs: The language and the culture”. TESOL Quarterly, Vol.1(2).

[12]. Shajahan, S., & Shajahan, L. (2007). “Organization behavior”. India: New Age Publications.

[13]. SitiNorliana, G. (2008). “Learner background and their attitudes towards studying literature”. Malaysian Journal of ELT Research, Vol.4, pp.1-17.

[14]. Topping, D. M. (1968). “Linguistics or literature: An approach to language”. TESOL Quarterly, Vol.2(2), pp.95- 100.

[15]. Turker, F. (1991). “Using "literature" in language teaching”. Hacettepe Universitesi EAltimFakültesiDergisi, Vol.6, pp.299-305.

[16]. Widdowson, H. G. (1975). “Stylistics and the teaching of literature”. London: Longman.

[17]. Widdowson, H. (1982). “The use of literature”. In M. Hines, and W.Rufher Ford (Eds.), TESOL 81. Washington D.C.

	North Americas,UK, Middle East,Europe		India	Rest of world
	USD	EUR	INR	USD-ROW
Pdf	35	35	200	20
Online	35	35	200	15
Pdf & Online	35	35	400	25

Students’ attitudes towards the use of poetry in second language classrooms

Abstract

Keywords

How to Cite this Article?

References

If you have access to this article please login to view the article or kindly login to purchase the article

Purchase Instant Access

Options for accessing this content: