WRITING FOR

NOVICE
TEACHERS
 Context Coherence
Encoded
language

Set of sentences

Texts What is writing

at all?

Cohesion

Symbols

Words combined

Byrne, D. (1988). Teaching Writing skills.

“THE WHS OF
WRITING”
 HOW CAN WRITING
HELP MY STUDENTS
LEARN THEIR
SECOND LANGUAGE
BETTER?
• IS WRITING A SKILL TO SHOW OFF OUR
LEVEL OR PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH OR
A WAY T O C O M M U N I C AT E ?

• PA S S I V E O R A C T I V E S T U D E N T S ?

• CHANGE THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE

LANGUAGE TEACHING.
HOW CAN I FIND
ENOUGH TOPICS?
• Students´ interests

• Enough topics or enough time?

• One big writing activity or meaningful

small activities?
HOW CAN I HELP TO MAKE THE
SUBJECT MATTER MEANINGFUL?

• Get topics and instructions that are

appealing to students.
• Clear and objectives prior the writing
process.
• Take into consideration reader and
writer.
 WHO WILL READ WHAT
MY STUDENTS WRITE?

• Is there a problem whether there is or

isn’t a reader for the writing tasks?

• Real readers vs “fake” readers.

• Role play
• Outside reader
HOW ARE STUDENTS GOING TO WORK
TOGETHER IN THE CLASSROOM?
• Communicative approach. Teams “beat”
individuality.
• A more secure environment. Errors are
corrected inside the groups.
• Choose teams carefully (personality,
abilities).
HOW MUCH
TIME
SHOULD I
GIVE MY
STUDENTS
FOR THEIR
WRITING?
REALITY VS
E X P E C TAT I O N S
WHAT DO I DO WITH
ERRORS?
• Communication or performance?
• Meaning over quantity or accuracy.
• Help students notice and correct their
mistakes not to count them.