Page 10 - FINAL RESEARCH PAPER THESIS 2020

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction
This section laid out the introduction and the background to the study. It further stretched the

statement of the problem which concisely showed the challenges student teachers encountered in
teaching poetry in English Second Language. Moreover, the research questions to be investigated

were also outlined as well as the significance of this study, its limitations and delimitations. It
summed up with definitions of key terms.

1.2. Background of the Study
Before Namibia’s independence in 1990, the Cape Education Curriculum was used in Namibian

schools which made Afrikaans the medium of instruction in schools and also the official language

(Nandu, 2013). However, several changes were made after Namibia’s independence. These
changes of curriculum included the use of English as the medium of instruction.

Teaching poetry is one of the important activities in English as a language. Studies revealled that
poetry is considered a key element of many literature curricula around the world (Sigvardsson,

2019). Sugandi and Husnaini (2015) point out that there are many benefits of literature. For

example, teaching literature is believed to be a tool to promote cross-cultural understanding. It is
also considered as the potential sources to explore the aspect of history, social, and culture of

foreign language (Sugandi & Husnaini, 2015). In view of the vast benefits of poetry on language
improvement, knowledge expansion, intelligence sharpening, and general inspiration to mankind,

it deserves being instituted into the school curriculum as an autonomous and compulsory academic

discipline (Josephine, 2013).

Many language experts believe that poetry should be accorded an equal status to other disciplines

on the school curriculum to avoid the tendency of being marginalised and avoided by teachers
(Josephine, 2013). If teachers discover the benefits of poetry, they will introduce various material

to bring into their classrooms (Juhlin, 2018). However, there are various challenges faced by
student teachers in the teaching field specifically teaching poetry.

1