LSE HE Blog Fellow Sam Illingworth talks to four practitioners from across higher education about how they use poetry in their learning and teaching. Guests Jennie Blake, Kirsten Jack, Martin Kratz and Mala Radhakrishnan share their favourite poems as well as advice for how others might start to use poetry in their own practice
In this podcast, I explore the complex influence of poetry within academia, focusing on its significant role in both teaching and personal growth. Joined by a group of guests from various educational spheres, we examine the importance of verse in fostering critical thinking and emotional articulation among students and educators. Our conversations shine a light on the ways poetry can transform traditional methods of education and explore creative methods for incorporating poetry into educational programmes. Sharing favourite poems and their uses in education, we uncover the diverse ways poetry can elevate the learning and teaching experience.
This podcast features:
00:12 An introduction from Sam Illingworth
01:23 A conversation with Jennie Blake about poetry and the student experience
11:25 A conversation with Kirsten Jack about poetry and empathy in higher education
20:00 A conversation with Martin Kratz about poetry, translation, and academic support
30:53 A conversation with Mala Radhakrishnan about poetry and belonging
40:45 Sam Illingworth sharing his favourite poem
Listen to the podcast
Show notes
The following poems were featured in this podcast:
‘Epic’ by Patrick Kavanagh
‘Wild Geese’ by Mary Oliver
‘A Stroll’ by Shuntarō Tanikawa; translated by William I Elliott and Kazuo Kawamura
‘The Gardener 85’ by Rabindranath Tagore
Things We’ve Thought of Enough by David Morin
‘Dust of Snow’ by Robert Frost
‘The Colonel’ by Carolyn Forché
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This post is opinion-based and does not reflect the views of the London School of Economics and Political Science or any of its constituent departments and divisions.
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Main image: Trust “Tru” Katsande on Unsplash
