Interaction Through Poetry in English Literature Class Rooms

Abstract

Teaching is an interactional process. It is a system of activities that are likely to result in learning. It is a task-oriented process, a process to achieve certain pre-determined objectives. The main objective of all English as Foreign Language(EFL) literature students is to bring out effective communication along with developing literary efficiency to understand and appreciate literature. Poems serve as valuable materials that expose the learners to different registers and types of language use, and being rich in cultural references, they provide a wide scenario of learning opportunities. Poetry does not exist on the pages of a book, it is an interaction. Being a facilitator, a teacher should help the students to personalise the poem. Class activity strategies should be categorised as pre-reading activities, reading activities and post-reading activities. For all these activities, arm-chair method is the best-suited method. Such a method creates a relaxed atmosphere for intellectual work. The teacher should motivate the students to gain a proper insight into the material. The teacher must aim to bridge the gap between the classroom and the universe outside, but never overprotect the learner. Fruitful strategies will provide a unique forum where the students can weave the variegated threads of life and may fly on their own.