Dr. Hossam Badrawi Official Website
At the invitation of the esteemed writer and poet Mr. Ahmed Abdel-Moati Hejazi and his team, Dr. Hossam Badrawi attended a cultural discussion at Dr. Hejazi’s salon in the House of Arab Poetry in Al-Hussein, where he shared his views on “Arabic Poetry in Educational Curricula.” The discussion was attended by Dr. Youssef Nofal, Dr. Ahmed Ammar, the poet Ahmed Abed, and was moderated by Mr. Mohamed Abdo Badawi.
The title of Dr. Badrawi’s address was: “Renewing the Teaching of Arabic Poetry in Schools.”
Dr. Hossam said:
“Language is not just a sound… it is consciousness clothed in melody.
What makes language truly human is that it is not merely a means of communication, but a vessel for emotion, experience, and memory.
The word ‘love’ consists of only two letters, yet it carries more meaning than libraries full of books.
Language infuses sound with meaning, turning air into thought, and breath into philosophy.”
The Need for New Teaching Methods
Students’ awareness and interests have drastically changed in the digital age. Traditional methods of teaching Arabic—especially poetry—no longer achieve the intended impact. Old methods relied heavily on rote memorization and conventional vocabulary explanation, which distanced poetry from its true spirit and educational purpose.
In the era of knowledge explosion and information overload, it has become imperative to adopt new approaches in teaching literature that resonate with this digital generation. It is time to move away from outdated methods and shift to modern strategies that focus on learner engagement and interaction with the poetic text—methods that relate the content to the student’s interests and passions.
Today’s students are digitally interactive and accustomed to visual, fast-paced content. They need educational methods that bring poetry to life and connect it to their lived experience.
Here Are Some Guiding Proposals for Modernizing the Teaching of Arabic Poetry in Egyptian Schools:
1. Adopting Interactive and Innovative Teaching Methods
Instead of relying solely on lectures and word-by-word explanations, teachers should implement interactive approaches where students actively participate. One modern strategy is to begin with the backstory of the poem—offering historical context or a short tale related to the poem’s theme to capture attention.
The student’s role should be central: reading, asking, interpreting, and contributing—not passively receiving.
Educational studies stress that no single method fits all; diverse strategies should be used based on students’ variety and learning goals. Innovative teachers blend discussion, brainstorming, and role-playing to ensure every student takes part in shaping the poem’s meaning—not just memorizing it.
2. Integrating Technology and Digital Media in Poetry Education
Poetry teaching today cannot be isolated from the technologies that define students’ lives. Here’s how tech can enrich the poetry learning experience:
- Audio-visual presentations of poems: Instead of the teacher reading in a monotone, they could play a professional recording of the poem with images or illustrations that enhance its meaning, making the poem more engaging and emotionally accessible.
- Digital creative production: Students can be tasked with digital projects like creating videos or slide shows that include lines from the poem, paired with suitable visuals and background music.
- Class blogs and forums: Set up a class poetry blog where students post their reflections and creative writings.
- Blended learning and virtual classrooms: Adopt the “flipped classroom” model where students watch a video about the poet or the historical context at home, then come to class ready for creative discussion. Teachers can use projectors or interactive boards with visual effects to present the poem in engaging ways.
- Virtual Reality (VR): Advanced studies show that VR can enhance student engagement when learning poetry.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): Use AI tools to create personalized poetry exercises—for example, analyzing meter and providing instant feedback on correct rhythm or simplifying complex metaphors and similes. These tools offer individual support to help students master classical Arabic poetry.
In short, technology is not the enemy of poetry—it’s a bridge to bring it closer to today’s youth. Through multimedia and interactive tools, poetry lessons become vivid experiences that combine the joy of watching and listening with the depth of reading and reflection.
3. Creative In-Class Activities to Boost Engagement
Besides modernizing teaching methods, it’s essential to diversify in-class activities to make poetry learning fun and hands-on:
- Poetry recitation competitions and dramatization: Students can perform the poem or act out parts of it in a creative theatrical setting.
- Multimedia artistic expression: Let students express the poem through drawings, digital art, or music.
- Poetry writing and creative expression: One of the best ways to understand poetry is by writing it. Teachers can dedicate time for students to create their own simple verses—whether in classical, free verse, or colloquial form—and then share them in class. This develops their understanding of rhythm, rhyme, and imagery practically.
- Songs and chanting: Music is a direct path to a student’s heart. Teachers can turn poems into songs or chants. Many classical Arabic poems have already been set to music. Playing one of these songs in class and having students sing along is especially effective for those less inclined toward traditional poetry, as it taps into their musical interests to reach educational goals.
By incorporating these activities, poetry class becomes an energetic workshop filled with movement, sound, and color—engaging both body and mind and making the experience enjoyable and memorable.
4. Linking Poetry to Contemporary Issues and Values
To help students see poetry as more than ancient words disconnected from their reality, it’s important to show how poetry relates to modern life and current issues.
- When teaching a classical patriotic poem, relate it to current ideas of citizenship and how today’s youth contribute to their country.
- Compare classical love poems to the way emotions are expressed today, especially through social media.
- Include modern or contemporary poetry in the curriculum alongside classical texts.
- Discuss values: Many poems carry ethical or human values (like courage, generosity, sacrifice). Teachers should highlight these and link them to real-life examples. Where do we see these values today? What public figures or everyday situations embody them? This way, students realize that poetry isn’t just beautiful language, but a message and a set of human values that transcend time.
- Finally, teachers can ask students to find a poem or line of verse that speaks to a contemporary issue they care about, and present it to the class—explaining why they chose it and how it relates to their world.
5. Fostering a Love of Poetry and Developing Artistic Appreciation
The ultimate goal of all these efforts is for students to love and appreciate poetry—not just study it for exams and then forget it. Here’s how to build that artistic taste:
- Appeal to emotions: Focus on the aesthetic aspects of the poem—its imagery and musicality—and invite students to reflect on the feelings it evokes.
- Avoid complexity and alienation: Present poetry in an accessible, relatable manner.
- Consistent encouragement and praise: Teachers should create a positive atmosphere around poetry.
- Extra-curricular poetry activities: Organize school literary clubs or poetry evenings, inviting parents or local poets. When students see that poetry is celebrated at school and that their creative efforts are showcased, they will feel that what they’re learning truly matters.
Conclusion: Toward Making Poetry Part of the Soul
In conclusion, renewing the methods of teaching Arabic poetry is not a luxury—it’s a necessity dictated by the nature of today’s learners and the fast pace of their lives.
By embracing interactive approaches, modern technologies, and creative activities, poetry class becomes an enjoyable and influential experience. This transforms students from mere memorizers to appreciators and creators of poetry.
When students truly feel the beauty of the Arabic word and sense that the poem speaks to and about them, a deep passion is born—one that inspires them to explore poetry even beyond the school curriculum.
