Module 5: Lesson 5 - Learning writing Flashcards
Describe 3 types of writers you come across in teaching.
- Learners who haven’t yet learned how to physically write. These learners will need to learn the correct way to hold their pen or pencil, as well as practice forming letters.
- There are learners who can write in their own language, but are unfamiliar with English words. Some learners come from cultures where the script has a different form, such as Japanese, Chinese, or Arabic.
- There are learners who already know how to write in English, but they need to improve and perfect their writing skills, as well as improve their accuracy and fluency when producing written texts.
What are the 3 stages in learning to write?
Copying: learners copy info from the board or worksheets, better suited to beginners, safe and controlled environment.
Guided writing: writing task where learners are given guidelines to help them, learner has freedom to write & explore the language with support and structure.
Free writing: freedom to write with minimal restrictions, put into practice what they’ve learned, can use different writing styles and explore their own.
Name 6 examples of copying activities.
Copying the alphabet
Match pictures with words
Substitution tables
Memory games
Running dictation
Copying questions from the board
Name 3 examples of guided writing activities.
Sentences with blank spaces: blanks focus on grammar or language points.
Brainstorming language: used to start a topic or introduce grammar point.
Modeled writing: encourages accurate and imaginitive writing.
How can you set up a free writing activity?
Prepare for the activity beforehand, using brainstorming, discussions, listening, or reading tasks related to the topic.
Avoid learners becoming bored with the activity by using writing as a springboard to exploring a variety of skills within the lesson.
Allow students to select their own topic. If the teacher selects the topic, make sure to take the learners’ interests and motivation into consideration.
Students should be equipped with the necessary grammar structures, punctuation, and lexical content before beginning their writing activity.
Correction - use learners’ own mistakes made to further improve their skills. Peer correction in particular could be useful in free writing activities.
What is meant by context/genres of writing?
The stylistic and structural requirements that are applied to different types of text.
The different features can take the form of layout and how paragraphs are used, the range of vocabulary utilized, the degree of formality employed, the target audience.
Name 3 types of contexts / genres of writing.
Essays: typically formal, paragraphs with introduction and conclusion, passive voice.
Emails: vary in formality, greeting and paragraphs followed by closing line.
Articles: aim to entertain so register is more personal and informal, intro followed by main body and conclusion, active voice.
