From prose to poetry: A creative approach to teaching
In Indian school education, English as a subject and language is often considered a symbol of quality education and a benchmark for comparing private and public education systems. In the classroom, teaching English is not just about helping students pass the subject, but also about enabling them to participate more effectively in the global community.
I focused on making students active contributors rather than passive learners. I used various teaching tools, such as integrating Energisers and Interactive Exercises like singing along, to improve student performance. Transforming traditional English lessons into engaging poems helped simplify complex concepts and also enhanced students’ retention and appreciation of the language. By converting prose lessons into poetry, I aimed to leverage the rhythmic and mnemonic qualities of verse to facilitate learning. For example, I applied this approach to the X grade English Main Course Book of PSEB . By employing vivid imagery and teaching materials to elucidate each stage of the lesson, I was able to help students reinterpret descriptive prose into a structured poetic form.
(As told to Neha Saini)