Fostering language skills through verse

The use of authentic literary texts, including poetry, in teaching English as a foreign language is becoming increasingly widespread. This can be attributed to the growing popularity of communicative teaching methods and the gradual shift away from teacher-centered approaches to language instruction. When teachers decide to incorporate authentic texts into their English lessons, they face the challenge of selecting appropriate texts and determining the most effective methods for working with them in the classroom. At the same time, they strive to consider their students' interests and preferences, as well as curriculum requirements, while focusing on teaching English. In the process of teaching a foreign language, educators always aim to choose the best teaching methodology to enhance students' communicative skills. One such method is familiarizing students with literature, especially poetry in the foreign language being studied. The ability to read foreign literature is one of the key skills acquired in the process of learning a foreign language. Today, the selection of teaching materials available to foreign language teachers is quite extensive, ranging from ready-made methodological brochures and teaching guides to accessible authentic journalistic materials and literary works. However, when choosing a teaching strategy for specific students, the question arises about the appropriateness of using poetry in the curriculum, as well as the degree of their authenticity or adaptation. In most foreign language teaching methodologies, literature is introduced after a substantial and solid study of the language. Thus, in textbooks, methodological tools, and teaching aids for teachers, poetic works receive little attention. This work is an attempt to analyze the importance and effectiveness of using poetic works in foreign language lessons, it explores the integration of poetry in the teaching process and investigates its impact on language acquisition, cultural appreciation, and overall language learning experience. It is an attempt to learn contemporary language teaching methods with an emphasis on literature at the university level and analyze their effectiveness in this specific context.