Teaching writing

Hi welcome to a new post! We are about to finish our classes and I want to thank you for reading each of the posts and I hope you have learned as much as I have. 

This day I will talk about teaching writing and I know many of us have consideret it tedious at some point but as we learn its structure and put it into practice we will feel it easier, so come on! You can do it!

Writing involves many parts as:

 Handwriting: Is a means of expressing language, just like speech. Some call it "Language by Hand". It is a physical way of expressing thoughts and ideas and a means of communicating with others. (About Handwriting, s. f.)

Spelling: Is the ability to spell words in the correct way. 

Punctuation: Is the tool that allows us to organize our thought and make it easier to review and share our ideas. (University of Lynchburg, s. f.)

Sentece construction: A sentence follows Subject + verb + object word order

Organizing a text and paragraphing: This help you to organize your ideas to present a document. 

Text cohesion: Refers to the many ways (grammatical, lexical, semantic, metrical, alliteratice) in which the elements of a text are linked together. (Language Centre, University of Cambridge., s. f.)

Register/ style: It is defined as the way a speaker uses language differently in different circumstances. It is related to the words you choose, your tone of voice, even your body language. (Nordquist, 2019)

What are the roles of the teacher:

1. Monitor

2. Resource

3. Feedback provider 

Teaching grammar and vocabulary 

Grammar is part of the learning process of any language and there are many tools and methodologies that teachers use to teach it and to know which is the best method teachers should answer these key questions:

• What is grammar?
• How do people learn grammar?
• How can I analyse form, meaning and use for teaching purpose?
• What are possible component parts of a grammar lesson?
• etc

To learn a language item, learners need to:

• To be exposed to a lot of language

- How? Teaching them by realistic reading and listening activities.

• Notice specific items 

- How? Providing them texts, exercises and techniques.

• Understand the form, meaning and use of an item 

- How? Be informed about form, meaning and use of language 

• Try things in a safe environment and have opportunities to practise 

-How? Giving many opportunities to practise

• Use the new language when speaking and writing

- Practise using speaking and writing task 

• Remember items 

- Every learner remember items in their own way

All these activities are called input or clarification because they mean to be exposed to practice. 

There are two structures of teaching grammar

• Teaching grammar deductively: It means a "present-practice" lesson 

- The structure is: 

1. Clarification

2. Restricted output

3. Restricted output

4. Authentic output

• Teaching grammar inductively 

- Teaching grammar inductively 

1. Restricted exposure

2. Clarification: Guided discovery 

3. Restricted output 

4. Restricted output

5. Authentic output

About Handwriting. (s. f.). https://nha-handwriting.org.uk/handwriting/

University of Lynchburg. (s. f.). A Quick Guide to Punctuation. https://www.lynchburg.edu/academics/writing-center/wilmer-writing-center-online-writing-lab/grammar/a-quick-guide-to-punctuation/#:~:text=Punctuation%20is%20the%20tool%20that,%2C%20ellipsis%2C%20colon%2C%20semicolon.

Language Centre, University of Cambridge. (s. f.). Cohesion and Coherence. https://www.english.cam.ac.uk/elor/lo/cohesion/index.html

ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/register-language-style-1692038#:~:text=In%20linguistics%2C%20the%20register%20is,voice%2C%20even%20your%20body%20language.