GRADE 9 English TOURISM:INTERNATIONAL – LISTENING AND SPEAKING:ORAL POETRY Notes
English Notes — Listening & Speaking: Oral Poetry (Grammar Focus)
Subject: English | Topic: Tourism — International | Subtopic: Listening and Speaking: Oral Poetry | Age: 14 (Kenya)
Learning goals
- Use correct grammar when writing and performing short oral poems about international tourism.
- Recognise and practise tenses, verbs (active/passive), modals, articles and clauses that make poetry clear for international audiences.
- Convert spoken lines between direct and reported speech and between active and passive forms.
Quick grammar points with tourism poem examples
1) Tenses — choosing the right tense
Tenses tell when things happen. In oral poetry for tourism you often:
- Present simple — facts, general truth, vivid description:
Example: "Nairobi welcomes visitors from all over the world." (fact; good line for a poem introducing the city)
- Past simple — finished events, stories or memories:
Example: "Last year, tourists walked the white sands of Diani." (a story line)
- Present continuous — actions happening now or near future (creates immediacy):
Example: "The guides are telling tales of the Maasai plains." (sound alive for listeners)
2) Active and passive voice — who does the action?
Active is direct and strong. Passive focuses on the experience (often used in tourism brochures/poems).
- Active: "Tourists visit Mount Kenya." (subject does the action)
- Passive: "Mount Kenya is visited by tourists." (good to highlight the place)
- Tip: Use passive in a poem to make the place seem important or timeless.
3) Modals — mood and advice
Modals (can, should, may, must, might) show permission, advice, possibility and duty.
- "You should taste Kenyan tea" (advice for visitors)
- "Visitors can watch the sunset at Diani." (possibility/opportunity)
- "They must carry their passport when travelling internationally." (strong rule)
4) Articles (a, an, the) — make meaning specific
- "a" / "an" — any / one of many: "a guide", "an island".
- "the" — a specific person/place known to listeners: "the Maasai Mara", "the airport".
- Poetry tip: omit articles for rhythm sometimes, but only when meaning stays clear.
5) Relative clauses — add details without long stops
Use who/which/that to add short facts in a line:
- "A guide who speaks many languages welcomes guests." (person)
- "The coral reef that stretches along the coast shines." (place)
6) Countable and uncountable nouns — use numbers and quantifiers correctly
- Countable: "three tourists", "many beaches", "two airports".
- Uncountable: "salt water", "history", "beauty" (no 's').
- Quantifiers: "many" with countable; "much" with uncountable. Example: "many visitors" / "much history".
7) Direct vs Reported speech — telling or performing speech
Direct speech quotes exact words. Reported speech tells what was said — useful when summarising for international audiences.
- Direct: He said, "Kenya is beautiful."
- Reported: He said that Kenya was beautiful. (notice tense shift: present → past)
- In oral poems, use direct speech for strong effect and reported speech for summary.
8) Connecting words — make lines flow
Use linking words to join ideas smoothly.
Examples: and, but, however, because, while, although, therefore.
Poetry example: "The ocean glitters, and the drums call; therefore, visitors dance."
Poetry example: "The ocean glitters, and the drums call; therefore, visitors dance."
Short classroom activities (grammar practice with oral poetry)
-
Fill the blank (choose tense/modals):
a) "Every morning, guides _____ (lead) tourists to the park."
b) "You _____ (should/must) respect local customs when you visit."
c) "Last month, many foreigners _____ (visit) the festival." -
Change to passive (keep meaning):
a) "Tourists admire the coral reef." → __________________________
-
Turn direct speech into reported speech:
a) Guide said: "We welcome visitors from every continent." → __________________________
- Write two short lines (4–6 words each) about an international visitor using: - one line with a relative clause, and - one line with a modal (should/can/must).
-
Identify articles and decide whether to keep or remove them for rhythm:
Line: "The sun of Mombasa warms the sandy shores." → Keep or remove "the"? Explain.
Suggested answers
- Activity 1: a) lead (or leads) — best: "lead" if plural subject "guides" → "lead"; b) should or must (depends: advice = should); c) visited.
- Activity 2: "The coral reef is admired by tourists."
- Activity 3: Reported: The guide said that they welcomed visitors from every continent. (or: The guide said that they welcome visitors from every continent — keep present if still true.)
- Activity 4 example:
Relative: "A guest who travelled far applauds."
Modal: "He should learn a Swahili greeting." - Activity 5: You may remove "the" for rhythm: "Sun of Mombasa warms sandy shores." — removing "the" makes it more poetic, but meaning is still clear. If you want a specific sun, keep "the".
Oral performance tips (grammar-only reminders)
- Keep verbs consistent in tense within a short sequence so listeners follow the time frame.
- Use short sentences or clauses joined by linking words for clarity in live recitation.
- Choose active voice for energy; use passive to highlight places or traditions.
- Check subject–verb agreement in every line: "A group of visitors is excited" (not "are").
Quick practice (say this twice, aloud):
"Nairobi welcomes many visitors. The guide who speaks three languages is ready. You should explore with respect."
(Check grammar: present simple, relative clause, modal)Use these grammar tools when writing short oral poems about international tourism in Kenya (Nairobi, Mombasa, Maasai Mara, Mount Kenya). Focus on clear tenses, correct verbs, suitable modals and smooth connectors so international listeners understand and enjoy your performance.
Good luck — practise lines aloud, check the grammar, and let the place speak through correct language!