The Effectiveness of Using Poetry in Developing English Vocabulary, Pronunciation and Motivation of EFL Palestinian Students

  • Mohammed A A Farrah Hebron University, State of Palestine
  • Ruba AL-Bakri Hebron University, State of Palestine
Keywords: poetry, vocabulary, pronunciation, motivation, EFL Palestinian students

Abstract

This study aims at investigating the effectiveness of using poetry in developing English vocabulary, pronunciation and motivation of EFL Palestinian students. The researcher adopted the quantitative method to collect the required data. The researcher used a questionnaire for both students and teachers to examine their attitudes towards using poetry in the language classroom. The participants of the study were both teachers and students from Hebron. The sample of study consisted of 73 female Tenth grade students and 214 English language teachers. One school has been chosen to form the experimental group. The analysis of the post-test revealed that the experimental group has significantly outperformed the control group in both vocabulary and pronunciation competences when they read poetry. Likewise, the results of the questionnaires showed that both teachers and students have positive attitudes towards using poetry in the language classroom as a means for teaching English language. In short, poetry has positive effect on developing the English vocabulary, pronunciation and increasing students’ motivation.

References

Abuzahra, N, & Farrah, M. (2016). Using Short Stories in the EFL Classroom. IUG Journal of Humanities, 24(1), 1-42
Ahmad, J. (2014). Teaching of Poetry to Saudi ESL Learners: Stylistic Approach. Study in English Language Teaching, 2(1), 123-139.
Collie, J., & Slater, S. (1987). Teaching literature: why, what and how. In S. Michael (Ed.), Literature in the Language Classroom: A resource book of ideas and activities (pp. 3-10). New York, Cambridge University Press.
Farrah, M. & Halahlah, N (2020). Pronunciation problems among Palestinian English major students in Hebron University. International Journal of Arabic-English Studies (IJAES), 20(1), 203-226
Ghosn, I. K. (2002). Four good reasons to use literature in primary school ELT. ELT Journal, 56(2), 172-179.
Harmer, J. (1991). The Practice of English Language Teaching. New York: Long man.
Kong, F. (2010). On the Effectiveness of Applying English Poetry to Extensive Reading Teaching. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 1(6), 918-921.
Lazar, G. (1993). Literature and Language Teaching. A guide for teachers and trainers. Cambridge: Cambridge UP.
Mckay, S. (1982). Literature in the ESL classroom. TESOL Quarterly, 16(4), 529-536.
Mittal, R. (2014). Teaching English through Poetry: A Powerful Medium for Learning Second Language. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science (IOSR-JHSS), 19(5), 21-23.
Özen, B. (2012). Teaching Vocabulary through Poetry in an EFL Classroom. International Online Journal of Primary Education, 1(1), 58-72. Retrieved from http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED534091.pdf
Reilly, N. (2012). What is the Role of Poetry in Second Language Learning and Teaching?. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/NataliaReillyPhD/reilly-poetry-in-sla
Rush, P. (2010). Behind the Lines: Using Poetry in the Language Classroom. Retrieved from https://amelialoebis.files/2010/12/05.pdf
Shen, W. W. (2003). Current trends of vocabulary teaching and learning strategies for EFL settings. Feng Chia Journal of Humanities and social sciences, 7, 187-224.
Vural, H. (2013). Use of Literature to Enhance Motivation in ELT Classes, Mevlana International Journal of Education (MIJE), 3(4), 15-23.
Mean and standard deviation for students’ attitudes towards using poetry regarding “language skills” dimension due to the teaching method
Published
2022-09-19
Section
Articles