SHORT STORIES

Material : Short stories

Time : 60min

Objective: development of general knowledge using the skills; reading, speaking, listening and writing.

Planning : The stories are illustrated with pictures, suitable for the level of the participants and short for quick comprehension.

Steps:

1- The participants read the story in silence;

2- Volunteers can retell the story and discuss it;

3- Write the story with own words;

4- Check the handwriting observing:

grammar mistakes;

spelling;

punctuation;

word order;

5- Prepare an exercise using the common mistakes;

6- The participants are supposed to re-write the story correcting their own mistakes.

7- Reward the final writing.

WRITING SENTENCES

New Year has just started and here I am with lots of perspectives of a very good refreshment to start the term with innovative ideas, , reflecting about methodology and trying different approaches.

I would like to spend more time in reading and writing with my students, and for the first day of classroom, and all the excitement about Christmas time, presents, trips, holiday abroad, the kids want to spread the good news. So, using the topic, I believe it is a good idea to write about it.

Notes:

Use: and, then, because, of, for...

Ask: who, when, what, why, where, how...

Think: make up the story in your mind...

Write at least 3 very good sentences.

Ex:

"Long time ago, my uncle and I went to the store. My uncle bought a bike for me, because I wanted it."

It was written by Gvidas, P2.

ENGLISH IDIOMS

If you know any IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS in English, please let me know...

AN APPLE A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY.

A SCRIPUTURE A DAY KEEPS THE DEVIL AWAY.

Writing Review

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A Writing Competition

This activity is to make your students to write sentences. The tools are the words you are going to give them in a chart. Try to focus on the topic you have been working at the moment. For instance:

______________________________________

Pronouns - I, He, Me, We, It...

______________________________________

Verbs - sent, took, said, met, spoke, wrote...

______________________________________

Nouns - letter, flowers, parks...

______________________________________

Preposition - to, in...

______________________________________

Aux. Verb - is, was, ...

______________________________________

Useful Words - never, how...

______________________________________

Ex: I remember how we met.

Rules:

*Ask them to write five sentences;

*They can't add any different words;

*They can't repeat the words;

*Link the five sentences together in order to make sense;

*The winner is the one who follows the rules and makes no mistake.

Enjoy yourself and have a beautiful class!!!

Adopt Your Marking System

You have to decide for some techniques in ESL classes to correct written work. Here is a suggestion of a simple method that you can apply if you wish. Explain your marking system and give some examples. The students get used to them. GR = grammar WO = word order Sp = spelling L = Incorrect choice of lexis ^ = Omission X = Addition E = Expression 

The First Draft

All the stages we go through during the process of writing is the main reason to generate ideas, in case you don't want to hear..."I can't think about anything". Through small steps you break down any barrier for learning.

The teacher can draw a mind map with student's ideas on the board. It is a very good tool to show and share their thoughts.

Now, give them a chance to write their own first draft, I mean individually. This is a moment they have to express their opinion and learning experience. Grammar rules, spelling and punctuation should be ignored at this stage. Any difficulty with vocabulary the learners are allowed to write in their L1.

Remember to make available a good dictionary. The words or even phrases that they may have written in L1, they can find out among themselves if you give them another 5 minutes to share their draft.

Since the students have their first sketch, it is going to be easier to organize the text. Bring an example of the same genre you are working on. Discuss with the class the main topic of each paragraph and let them group similar ideas in one paragraph.

The students will get used to generate a second draft, or and a third one if it is necessary.

It is a good recommendation to have a code to signalise each type of mistake, so that they have a chance to reflect about their own writing. We usually learn through mistakes.

Writing

When I think about L2 learners, I am always concerned about bringing up the main four skills; speaking, listening, reading, and writing to the learners. Some learners can find writing challenging as the English progresses. Why Writing?

Writing involves, genre, grammar, spelling, and language convention. Genre can be discussed in reading and writing classes. The learners can compare and recognize the variety of texts , such as menus, formal and informal invitations, examples of letters, resumes, articles, poems, abstracts, researches, medicine instruction, dictionary, comic strips...which can be in groups, in pairs or, with the teacher. It also can be used between L1 and L2, so that the students can find out the differences.

When you have defined what exactly type of writing you want to develop, you start from your planning class.

Example: Write a small paragraph about your Trip to Glasgow.

1st stage - Brainstorm. Prepare some questions about the subject, and discuss with your students. Give an opportunity for every one to participate.

2nd stage - Prepare an interview about a trip, but to somewhere else, and give them a chance to interview each other.

3nd stage - Change partners and let them to share their stories.

4th stage - Working on revisions - make a remarkable review about the subject, the similarities, the differences, an amazing fact, etc.

5th stage - Edit

Observe the stages above are planned in advance to flow smoothly through the practice.

Finally EDIT it , or if you wish, draw THE FIRST DRAFT.