Wednesday Wildcard: Use poetry to improve your English

Some people are born creative, and other people aren’t sure. Is there a little voice in you that wants to play with colours or build something? Maybe you are a creative soul. I like to look for new and creative ways to learn English, and this week I want to talk about poetry.

Most people say that you can only write poetry in your native language. I say take that rule and throw it in the bin. Poetry is a wonderful way to play with a language and learn in a creative and personal way.

Here are some ways writing poetry can be an excellent way to help you improve your English:

·         Writing and playing with language is fun – fun is scientifically proven to help you learn better.

·         Poetry often uses rhyming (words that sound the same), which is a great way to help you learn and practice the sounds of English words.

·         When you write poetry you look for synonyms (more words that mean the same thing). This increases your vocabulary with more interesting and advanced new words!

·         Poetry is personal. Language learning is always more effective (it works better) when you use it for something personal.

·         You will create something beautiful that you can be proud of. Frame it! Paint it! Have fun.

Even elementary level learners can play with English. English has more words than almost any other language. This means it is a language built for poetry. Think of it like Lego, try it out, change the block, move the block, change the colour. Don’t be afraid to play with English, and share your creations.

If you write a poem, please share it here! We’d LOVE to see and share your creativity!