May 14th

Int'l Dylan Thomas Day

A celebration of the life and work of the iconic Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. It's a day to explore his powerful words and the lasting impact of his poetry on the English-speaking world.

SPEAKING LESSONB1 / B2Discussion · Vocabulary · Activities

01 / LET’S TALK

Speaking Discussion

Have you ever heard of Dylan Thomas? What do you think of his famous line do not go gentle into that good night?
Why do you think poetry is often seen as difficult or boring by many students today?
Do you think poets and artists have a responsibility to address political or social issues in their work?
How does the sound and rhythm of a poem change its meaning compared to just reading facts?
If you had to write a poem about your life right now, what would the first line be?

02 / PUT IT INTO PRACTICE

Activity 1: The Great Debate

Motion: "Traditional poetry is a dead art form and has been completely replaced by modern song lyrics and short viral videos for expressing complex human emotions."

Split the class into two sides. Team A defends the timeless depth of the written word; Team B argues for the evolution of art into modern, digital formats.

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Sentences

Complete the sentence and justify it in 20 seconds.

"The most powerful word in the English language is definitely..."
"If I could meet any famous writer from history, I would ask them..."
"I think humans still need stories and art because..."

Key Vocabulary

Iconic (Adj) Relating to or characteristic of an icon; widely recognised and well-established.
Rhythm (Noun) A strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound.
Metaphor (Noun) A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
Legacy (Noun) Something handed down from an ancestor or a predecessor from the past.
Nuance (Noun) A subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound.

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Fluency Catalyst

Describing Art: Instead of saying "I like this poem," try using "It resonates with me," "It captures the essence of..." or "It evokes a sense of..." These phrases show a much higher command of English.