To celebrate the recent launch of the JAL Foundation 17th World Children’s Haiku Contest, the Japan Society is hosting a special online workshop, focusing on how to teach haiku.

Haiku are sometimes thought of only as poems with 7-5-7 syllables - but they are so much more! Writing haiku is a great way to foster creativity and get young people excited about poetry as they take inspiration from the world around them. 

This workshop will specifically focus on how to teach haiku to children and young people; join haiku poet Paul Conneally as he introduces this short-form of poetry and shares his advice and gives practical guidance for teaching haiku - both inside and outside the classroom.

In this free workshop, attendees will:

• Find out what makes a haiku and explore common misconceptions
• Learn how to introduce haiku and facilitate haiku workshops for young people
• Listen to readings of haiku 
• Be given ideas on how to approach this year’s haiku contest theme - ‘towns’ 
• Have the opportunity to have questions answered by an expert 

Following the workshop we hope attendees will feel inspired to facilitate their own haiku sessions and submit entries to the World Children’s Haiku Contest 2021-2022.

Paul Conneally is an internationally acclaimed haiku poet and artist. He has led numerous workshops for children and adults in museums, schools, galleries and in his favourite place - ‘outdoors’. He has had the pleasure of leading the judging panel of the JAL Haiku Competition for a number of years and is looking forward to working ‘online’ with you!

If you have any questions, please call the Japan Society office on 020 3075 1996 or email events@japansociety.org.uk.