30 June 2024

Poetry "Health Fanatic" by John Cooper Clarke

For most, if not all, English teachers today, the "punk poet" is likely unknown and yet his fast-paced, strongly rhymic and rhythmic street or urban poetry is and has been highly influential. Clarke still tours worldwide, reading his witty, humorous and often ascerbic commentaries on the world in which we live. "Health Fanatic" is one of these.

Our four-part series on this work for students, teachers and those interested in literature. Each part is stand-alone and can be taken separately, however we recommend Part A before Part B. Each session includes a pdf version of the text for easy printing or distribution, a lesson plan, teacher notes and additional resources and activities.

Ready to use as single or double-lessons.

  • A = Knowledge and Understanding of the work
    • This session is appropriate for Advanced EFL and E2L students, G9 and above
    • For teachers new to or considering this work
    • For EFL and E2L language acquisition and development
    • For EFL and E2L Advanced Reading Comprehension practice and development
    • Especially useful for EFL and Chilean National Curriculum programmes
    • E2L and E1L Literature and Lang&Lit
    • GCSE, IGCSE, AS-Level, A-Level, IB MYP, IB Dip, AP
    • One-hour Guided Discussion
  • B = Response to and Analysis of the work
    • This session is appropriate for E1L and English Literature students G9 and above
    • For teachers new to or considering this work
    • For E2L and E1L language acquisition and development
    • For E2L and E1L Literature and Lang&Lit
    • GCSE, IGCSE, AS-Level, A-Level, IB MYP, IB Dip, AP
    • We recommend completing Part before taking Part B
    • One-hour Guided Discusssion
  • C1 = Evaluation activities typical of external examinations
    • For teachers new to or considering this work
    • Analysis of tasks and expectations of examiners
    • Tasks taken from or typical of GCSE, IGCSE, AS-Level, A-Level, IB MYP, IB Dip, AP
    • One-hour Professional Conversation
  • C2 = Practice and feedback
    • For students G9 and above
    • Review of task attempts with feedback
    • "Mock" assessment(s)
    • One-hour individual and group sessions as requested
  • D = Methodology and unit-planning
    • For teachers new to or considering this work
    • Strategies for using and teaching this work
    • Guidance and suggestions for planning a teaching unit based on this work
    • One-hour Professional Conversation
Complete the "Contact Us" form on the right to ask us about programmes and support related to Literature and Literature teaching, and for receive fee and registration information.


  • A C1 or higher level of English is assumed.

  • These are one-hour synchronous online video conferencing sessions; an in-person, face-to-face option is also available.

  • Click on the label(s) to the right for related programmes, or type "Poetry" into the search box for more poetry-specific sessions. Ask us about programmes and support related to literature teaching and programme philosophies and practice.
  • Complete the "Contact Us" form on the right

      • to be placed on the interest list for this topic and to receive advance notice of the next open-group session. Open-session group-sizes are limited to allow for participation and questions.
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