Teaching English Poetry to Turkish Undergraduates: Comprehension Strategies Matter

Abstract

This paper explores and highlights some of the strategies used to challenge, encourage and support the communicative learning process for two large classes of Turkish learners in their third and fourth years of the English Language and Literature Department at a large university in eastern Turkey. Many of these students are expected to become English teachers in the future. The learning strategies cover a range of areas including cognitive reading strategies, rigorous learning standards, learning styles and multiple intelligences, meaningful content and building cultural knowledge in order to assist learners in realizing their full potential. These strategies may be adaptable to other contexts and inspire teachers to teach what matters most in their own classrooms.