College EFL Classes through English Poetry Instruction Incorporating the Multiple Intelligences Theory

This article demonstrates how teachers can enhance language instruction in college EFL classrooms through poetry lessons incorporating the Multiple Intelligence theory. Before outlining and discussing the results of classroom applications of the poetry lesson plans, this article provides a brief outline of the theoretical foundations of Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences theory. The researcher designed The poetry lesson plans that tackle seven intelligences, which were used with three classes (Classes A, B, and C) during the 8th week of the semester. The result of study showed that using the stimulus material of poetry combined with MI directed activities is highly effective in promoting student involvement in the class. Choice-based activities in after-reading activities were instrumental in increasing the relevance and meaning of lessons and reducing teacher directedness. Participating students could practice four skills of English: reading, writing, listening and speaking and most of them indicated after taking the MI poetry classes that they thought that poetry should be included in EFL curricula. It is a notable result because many people think that poetry is too difficult to approach or is uninteresting to EFL/ESL students. However, this study shows that if teachers and material developers cultivate appropriate activities using proper poems, poetry can be useful and interesting material in the EFL classroom.