Fostering Cultural Awareness and Academic Engagement through Poetry Analysis in Kazakh Educational Contexts

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of activity-based and traditional analysis methods on students’ attitudes toward poetry, academic achievement, and cultural identity. A pre-test-post-test control group experimental design—a quantitative research method—was employed. The class using activity-based analysis methods for poetry analysis was designated as the experimental group, while the class following the traditional analysis method served as the control group. Participants were second-year students from the Kazakh Literature Department at a university in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The study spanned eight weeks and involved 18 female and 15 male students in the experimental group, with 17 female and 15 male students in the control group. All students provided informed consent to participate voluntarily. The Scale of Attitude toward Poetry, Poetry Analysis Skills Academic Achievement Test, and Cultural Identity Perception Scale were administered to measure the study variables. The findings revealed that activity-based analysis methods positively impacted students’ attitudes toward poetry, with the experimental group demonstrating a more favorable approach than the control group. Additionally, students in the experimental group achieved higher academic performance in poetry analysis skills than those in the control group. Although both groups showed a general improvement in their cultural identity perception, no significant difference was found between them. These results support the potential of activity-based approaches in poetry education to increase student achievement and attitudes. Consequently, integrating such methods should be actively encouraged in future educational practices.