Less Known Foreign Forms

Each form will be introduced, practised and polished over a minimum of three sessions, starting with the Spanish Quintilla and its variations.

Depending on progress we may consider other foreign forms.

Weeks 1 and 2 - The Spanish Quintilla - Its form, variations - purpose and suitability - cultural problems if any.
Assignments - written practice.

Weeks 2 and 3 - Latvian Dainas - Its form, variations - purpose and suitability - cultural problems if any.
Assignments - written practice.

Weeks 4 and 5 -- Further practise or an additional form (class choice) if time allows. Week 5 consists of a single session.


Instructor: James Bartlett

About The Instructor: Jim Bartlett is an ex-Royal Marine Officer, and retired teacher, with a good honours degree in Education, and English and Drama, from London University. He has been a member of a local poetry group in South Wales where he currently lives alone in a redundant farm house.

Jim started writing while serving with 45 Commando, Royal Marines in Aden in the mid 1960s. At that time he was writing mainly song lyrics but later moved on to poetry after studying it on his degree course, which he undertook as a mature student between 1972 and 1976.

He has been published in poetry magazines and newspapers from time to time. In 2005 he produced a CD of self-penned songs under the title of "Tomorrow Never Comes", and published a poetry collection of thirty-six poems in 2012 entitled, "Triple Dozen" prior to joining FanStory in March 2015. His songs and poems have won several competitions.

Jim has also lectured on English Folk Lore and Song for the WEA in SE London in the late 1970s. He was urged to enrol as an instructor on FanStory by many who found his reviews of their poetry particularly helpful.