Key concepts and the language teaching classroom
• The sub skills of writing that we teach will very a lot, depending on the age and need of our learner. At primary level we spend a lot of time teaching learner how to from letters and words and write short text of a few words or sentences, often by copying models. At secondary level we may need to focus more on the skills required to write longer texts such as letters, email or compositions.
• When we teach writing we need to focus on both accuracy and on building up and communicating a massage.
• Sometimes in the classroom learners write by, for example, completing in sentences with the correct word, talking note for listening comprehension, writing one-word answers to reading comprehension question. These activities are very useful for teaching grammar, and checking listening and reading, but they do not teach the skills of writing. To teach the writing sub skills we need to focus on accuracy in writing, on communicating a massage and on the writing process.
• By encouraging learners to use the writing process in the classroom we help them to be creative and develop their message, i.e. what they want to say.