Poetry in EFL classes

Today I would like to talk about poetry. Could it be useful in an EFL class?  As usual, I try to imagine some activities that involve the use of different digital tools.

What's poetry? 
At the following link you can find some great definitions (I made the above word cloud from some of these definitions using Tagul):
http://poetinthecity.wordpress.com/2011/03/16/what-is-poetry-50-definitions-and-counting/



Why study poetry in an ESL classroom? 
Poetry can help you reach many goals. Take a look at the following map I created with Cacoo:

Click to enlarge my diagram

Some links about the different kinds of poetry

Different types of poetry:
https://www.youngwriters.co.uk/glossary-poetry-types
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/learning/glossary-terms?category=forms-and-types

Examples of different types of poetry:
http://examples.yourdictionary.com/types-of-poetry-examples.html

Forms of poetry:
http://www.poeticterminology.net/index.htm

What about writing a poem?

Watch the video

Where to begin? Have a look at this diagram I made with Cacoo.

Click to enlarge my map

Some more tips

Some useful figures of speech:
http://esl.about.com/cs/reading/a/blpoetry.htm

To find rhymes:
http://www.rhymezone.com/

Let's practise!

Magnetic Poetry is a funny tool to write poems. You have to choose some words to create your masterpiece! Try it! Watch my example at the following link:
http://play.magneticpoetry.com/poem/Original/kit/15415/?h=8444d213e9cd688d306fa98d2aa7ca79

You could also make a poetry magazine where you could collect all your poems! Joomag is a great web tool.

Have a look at my example by clicking on the picture below:

"Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words."

Robert Frost

Creative writing tools - having fun with words and images

Here are some interesting writing tools to make writing activities 

more attractive.

You can play with words to create your text and 

you can link your words to images.

Then you can share your material.

Watch my simple examples.

PicLit

You choose an image from the Piclit gallery and you add some text. You can "drag and drop" choosing from different suggested nouns, adjectives and verbs or you can write "freestyle".

My example:
http://www.piclits.com/viewpoem.aspx?PoemId=237190

Capzles

With Capzles you work most of all with images. You can choose an image as your background and then you can add your own pics or videos to create a sort of presentation. By clicking on each picture it is possible to add a brief description. I think it could be very useful to describe a trip or a school activity.

My example:
http://www.capzles.com/3d3a9ba0-7533-45ca-bb0b-f6a97e03ac8c


Mapskip

This is a very original tool. The world is a canvas for your own stories and photos. You start from a map, you click on the place you like, you add your mark and write your story about that place. You can tell your adventures adding your pictures.

My example:
http://www.mapskip.com/stories.php?story=6681

Storybird

With Storybird you choose some images and write a story drawing inspiration from those pictures. Very useful to write a story and improve creativity and imagination.

My example:
http://storybird.com/books/the-teacher-and-the-little-girl/?token=gtq94fygeu


Magneticpoetry

You can write your own poems choosing among different suggested words. Very funny!

My example:
http://play.magneticpoetry.com/poem/Original/kit/15415/?h=8444d213e9cd688d306fa98d2aa7ca79

For teachers - some digital tools for writing and story telling

This post is about educational tools for writing or story telling.

The first tool I tried is Storybird.
http://storybird.com/

It's about artful storytelling. You can choose different images and drawings from various artists and you (or your students) can create a story. That's my simple example for you:
http://storybird.com/books/the-teacher-and-the-little-girl/?token=gtq94fygeu

 

Then I tried Magnetic Poetry.
http://play.magneticpoetry.com/

You have some words to choose to create your own poem!
This is my crazy masterpiece!
http://play.magneticpoetry.com/poem/Original/kit/15415/?h=8444d213e9cd688d306fa98d2aa7ca79

I have also tried Wordle.
http://www.wordle.net/

It generates “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the text.This is an example:

 Ok, now you and your students can enjoy using words.... Create your own masterpiece!!