Contents
=> “Poems from Patterns” - intro
=> “Introduction Poem” - poem-writing pattern
=> “Let’s All Go to… ” - poem-writing pattern
=> “Cinquians” - poem-writing pattern
=> “On a Diet” - a poem by Zhenya Dudina
=> Sale of Alaska Research - Need your Help
=> In the Next Issues

———————————————————————–
Poems from Patterns
———————————————————————–

If you ask learners to write poems, they may be reluctant. Writng a poem sounds like a difficult task. But, really, it’s easy and fun — IF you give them a pattern to follow.

Sometimes form and restriction make things easier. For instance, it’s easier–and more fun–to play tennis when you have a net, isn’t it? (The American poet Robert Frost said something to that effect).

———————————————————————–
“Introduction Poem” - poem-writing pattern
———————————————————————–

Here’s a nice ice-breaking activity… In June I went to Ulan-Ude in the Republic of Buryatia. And I asked those clever teachers to write short, 4-line poems introducing me to themselves or their cities

Ulan-Ude is a lovely city
We’ve lived her for a long time
You haven’t been here? It’s a pity.
That’s a nice rhyme.

To get learners started, give them a couple poems as models. You may use the above, or create one about yourself or your hometown.

Another method is to add music. For instance, you can ask students to write words that fit a well-known melody.

———————————————————————–
Let’s All Go to… ” - poem-writing pattern
———————————————————————–

On a visit to Abakan, I played a funny song called “Let’s All Go to Minusinsk.” Minusinsk is a nearby town. Well, super clever teacher Tatiana Chudochina took the basic “Let’s All Go to…” pattern and wrote another poem:

Let’s all go to Vladivostok
Because Kevin will meet us near the dock
Let’s all go to Vladivostok
Instead of wasting summer in the block
Let’s all go to Vladivostok
Because you’ll have a chance to buy a Japanese clock

This simple pattern can be used to write even longer poems about Magnitogorsk, New York, Edinburgh, Bryansk, or Tokyo.

———————————————————————–
Cinquains”- poem-writing pattern
———————————————————————–

By giving even more firmly fixed patterns the activity becomes easier. Here is something called a cinquian poem. It’s five lines and can be used with learners of all levels.

Line 1: noun
Line 2: two adjectives describing the noun from line 1
Line 3: 3 “-ing” words: these words describe action, what the noun might be doing.
Line 4: a complete sentence about the noun
Line 5: a synonym for the noun.

For instance…

Dogs
Alert, awake
Running, barking, growling
They break the night’s quiet
Wolves

You’ll find examples of cinquains on the interenet. I used www.lessonplans.com/LAValentine\CinquianPoems34.htm as my source.

———————————————————————–
“On a Diet”- a poem by Zhenya Dudina
———————————————————————–

Finally, a poem from one of our most frequent contributors, Zhenya Dudina of Samara. Perhaps teachers can use this as a model, asking students to write something similar. Or just read the poem for fun.

On a diet

They say keeping to a diet
Certainly will do you good
That is true, I won’t deny it,
So I gave up some junk food:

I eat neither bread nor butter,
Don’t take sugar in my tea,
I don’t fancy chocolate muffins,
Take the cakes away from me!

I’m not keen on sweets and cookies,
Apple pie is not my dream,
I’m not fond of home-made pudding,
I’m not crazy ‘bout ice-cream

I ignore my perfect diet
Only in the slightest way:
I drink ten cups of black coffee
Absolutely every day!

———————————————————————–
Sale of Alaska Research - Need Your Help!
———————————————————————–

In 1867, Russia sold Alaska to the United States. Or did they? During my presentation tours in Russia I have often heard that Russia leased Alaska to the United States. I have done some research and haven’t found much to support this. But I would be glad to hear details or opinions on this. Do Russians feel a sense of regret, or even of foul play in the Alaska deal? Write to me. I plan to publish an article on the subject.

Also, I have a little poll of two questions. Please copy the bit of text below, and send your responses to me.

Who SHOULD Alaska belong to?
1. USA
2. Russia
3. Other ________

I am
1. American
2. Russian
3. Other ___________

———————————————————————–
In the Next Issue
———————————————————————–

July 20th:
Dog Language
Find-the-Russian-Things Game

———————————————————————–
copyright 2005, Kevin McCaughey and I.M. Poosheesty