'Writing' is rarely a favourite area for students who often equate it with essay composition on difficult or uninteresting topics. Yet we all write everyday and it is a necessary skill which our learners need. In this session we will look at ways to make writing more engaging in class as well as how to make it more relevant to all of our students' needs.

1. Can Writing Be
Engaging?
BKC-IH Methodology Day
13 December 2012
Simon Brooks

2.  My Christmas Presents
◦Mike & Sharon – Wine glasses and nice bottle of Rioja
◦John and Sue – Wine glasses and a nice bottle of champagne
◦Nick – some good slippers and scarf
◦Andy – Russian calendar
◦Eddie – Star Wars DVD and an ‘Angry Birds’ game

3.  Process
◦ Planning
◦ Drafting
◦ Editing
◦ Final version
 Product
◦ Model
Writing – Process & Product

4.  Shopping list
 Christmas present list
 Texts
◦ to friends/family
◦ Texts to colleagues
 ‘to do’ lists on bits of paper
 Name in the snow
 Power point presentation!
 E-mail
◦ For work
◦ To friends
◦ About my holiday
 Christmas cards
 On the whiteboard in class
What I have written – last 48
hours

5. Letter to Santa

6.  Key words
◦ stressed
◦ Not whole sentences
◦ Content not grammar
 Abbreviate
◦ Use short forms
 Organise
◦ follow ‘signpost’ words
Taking Notes

7.  Monty – Driver – Schn cros
◦ A – Acc
◦ - give-up too difficult
 Dogs learn
◦ Prac
◦ Gears, steer
◦ 7 wks
 10 behvr – seq
◦ Takes time
 Purpose
◦ NZ Auk – res dogs adpt
◦ Pub know intell
My Notes – driving dogs

8.  Running dictation
 Use computers
 Use phones
 Make realistic!
DICTATION

9.  Hi. Flight delayed. Due in 18.35 so will be
late at hotel. Will call when we arrive.
TEXT

10.  Amazon
 Tripadvisor
 Twitter
 Blogs
 BBC – have your say
ONLINE – Global Community

11.  Process and product approach
 How we write everyday
 Letters – hand, typed
 Note taking
 Dictation – hand, electronic
 Global community
Summary

12. Can Writing Be
Engaging?
BKC-IH Methodology Day
13 December 2012
Simon Brooks