Poetry-based activities (conditionals) in English lessons- Part 1

Rudyard Kipling - If

If you can keep your head when all about you
are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
but make allowance for their doubting too;If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
or being hated, don't give way to hating,
and yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream-and not make dreams your master;
If you can think-and make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster,
and treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
and stoop and build 'em up with worn-out-tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings,
and risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
and lose, and start again at your beginnings
and never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
to serve your turn long after they are gone,
and so hold on when there is nothing in you
except the will which says to them: «Hold on!»
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
or walk with Kings-nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If old men count with you, but none too much;
If you can feel the unforgiving minute
with sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
and which is more- you'll be a Man, my son!


Wow.. Poetry.. It can provoke so many emotions... so many thoughts..It has been hailed as a deeply therapeutic practice. Poetry fosters emotional expression and healing through self-expression and exploration of one’s feelings. Students will have the chance to read about others' feelongs and thoughts, dive into their own pool of thinking and rediscover themselves. Moreover, with poetry's emphasis on symbolism, metaphor, and imagery poetry fosters and promotes creative thinking. The most remarkable power of literature is its ability to unite reader and writer across time and cultural boundaries thus poetry often prompts us to look a the world from a variety of perspectives, which fosters empathy and expands one’s world view. Since poetry triggers memories and emotions in its readers, this connection between universal emotions and personal experience encourages the development of empathy. Furthermore, the practice of poetry (both reading and writing poetry) strengthens language, writing, and speaking skills.The immediate benefits of reading poetry are improvements to vocabulary and verbal dexterity. Poetry acquaints the reader with unfamiliar terms and encourages verbal analysis.The common practice of memorizing poems also improves long-term brain health. As far as writing poetry is concerned, whether we’re searching for the perfect word, working out how to articulate a thought, or fine-tuning the rhythm and meter of a poem, the steps involved in crafting poetry strengthen our cognitive processes. In addition, we gain command of language, cultivate a robust vocabulary, master literary devices, and learn to work in imagery.

Given the poem above, here are some activities I propose.
-I usually combine this poem with conditionals teaching. As you can see 1st conditional is frequently used throughout this poem and it is a creative way to help students master identifying the main clause (which is only one in this poem) and the if-clause.
-You can have students rewrite the poem using the 2nd and the 3rd conditional and help them understand not only the differences in formation but also in meaning.
-What I really enjoy is having students compare poems and make them reflect on them. For example you could take the following poem:

To Laugh Often And Much ( Often attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson, it is an adaptation of a poem published in 1905 by Bessie Stanley)

To laugh often and much;

to win the respect of the intelligent people

and the affection of children;

to earn the appreciation of honest critics

and endure the betrayal of false friends;

to appreciate beauty;

to find the best in others; 

to leave the world a bit better

whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch,
or a redeemed social condition;

to know that one life has breathed easier 

because you lived here.

This is to have succeeded.



The two poems given share an opinion -or advice- on what their writers consider to be a success in life. They both focus on morals and the successful development of one's character which should be based on love, affection, respect, personality strength, ethos, moderation. This can be an activity that will prompt students define “success”, have them work out exactly what it looks like, and what they need to do to achieve it. Have your students reflect, share their thoughts, express their feelings, their anxiety about their future. It is such a nice procedure when you get to understand what your students think, believe, are afraid about. Listen carefully!! I am usually the one who is taught by her students during these activities!!
























There are so many poetry-based activities I could propose but.. stay tuned!! Part 2 is about to be posted and I hope it triggers your creativity too!!

Have fun!
Maria, P.

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