fluency on paper: the path to successful writing skills troy witt elt signposts, brno 11th september...

Fluency on Paper:The Path to Successful

Writing SkillsTroy WittELT Signposts, Brno11th September 2011

Fluency on Paper: The Path to Successful Writing Skills

How will the seminar be structured?

• Part A: Theory (15 mins)

• Part B: Methodology (45 mins)

• Part C: Assessment (30 mins)

Part A - Theory (15 Mins)

This part of the seminar will:

• examine the ‘product vs. process’ debate

• consider why writing seems to cause such difficulties for many students

• explore what needs to go into ‘good writing’ before the pen even hits the page

Process or Product?

In the teaching of writing we can focus on the product of that writing or on the writing process itself. When concentrating on the product we are interested in the aim of a task and in the end product. Those who advocate a process approach to writing, however, pay attention to the various stages that any piece of writing goes through.

Jeremy Harmer, The Practice of English Language Teaching

The Writing Process

Reviewing

Generating

Ideas

Structuring

Focusing

Evaluating

Drafting

White and Arndt, 2001

Why do students HATE writing?

Because...

• it’s dull, time-consuming and not interactive• it’s often difficult to see improvement• it requires learning a lot of lexis that is ‘non-transferable’ (used

to write only)• it’s often the least encountered of all 4 of the skills in daily life• the fact that good speaking skills do not translate directly into

good writing skills (yet they are both productive) is frustrating• it’s ‘foreign’ as the Czech school system does very little of it

What do students need to ask themselves before they write?

1 2 3 4the WHY

What is your motivation for writing?

Do you want transfer information, achieve a goal, or just make social contact?

the WHAT

What is the best way to communicate what it is you need to say?

Should you use a formal letter, a quick note, or a bulleted list?

the HOW

If you know what you want, what do you need to know to create it?

What makes a report different than a proposal?

the WHO

Who is going to read what you write?

How is an email to your boss different than an email to your grandmother?

Part B - Methodology (45 Mins)


• consider the elements and aspects involved in successful writing

• examine strategies, techniques, and some useful activities that help support these

Successful Writing Needs A Plan:Transactional Letter Organization Guide

Successful Writing Needs A Plan:Transactional Letter Organization Guide

In groups...

•review the task, and discuss the points that need to be included in the letter•complete the TRANSACTIONAL LETTER ORGANIZATION GUIDE for the task

IESOL B2 Communicator Sample Paper I

Successful Writing Needs Proper Register:A Tale of Two Letters

Formal

1. Dear Sir/Madam

2. Furthermore

3. I would greatly appreciate it if you could

Informal

a. And another thing

b. Do you think you can

c. Hey Bob


In groups...

•read both letters, decide which letter is FORMAL and which is INFORMAL•mark the structures in the list as indicative to either FORMAL (F) or INFORMAL (I)•find examples of each in the two letters

Successful Writing Needs To Be Corrected:A Letter to Correct

T

SP

^GR

/

Prep

WO

WW

P

wrong word

spelling

grammar

tense

punctuation

missing word

unnecessary word

preposition

word order

Aarticle


What are the problems here?

I born in 1971 in one small town in Mexico.

My father is diplomat, so my all life I live in different country.

I’m married since five years. I knew my wife on school.

^ WW

A WO T GR

T WW WW Prep


In groups...

•correct the letter using the ‘correction guide’ presented

New Headway UI (3rd Ed) pg 112

Part C – Assessment (30 Mins)


• provide an overview of City & Guilds itself, as well as the IESOL and EBC exams

• provide an opportunity for YOU to try your hand at assessing some sample responses

A Little Bit About City & Guilds

• British examining and certification body providing 50% of the UK’s vocational qualifications.

• City & Guilds in ČR organizes exams in English through 35 approved testing centres.

• City & Guilds exams in English: General English exams: IESOL (written) + ISESOL (spoken) Business English exams: EBC (written) + SETB (spoken)

Exams for Young learners: YESOL (written) + YSESOL (spoken)

The Exams

*International English for Speakers of Other Languages

**English for Business Communication

CEFR IESOL* EBC**

A1 Breakthrough Preliminary1

A2 Waystage Access

B1 Threshold Achiever2

B2 Vantage Communicator

C1 EOP Expert3

C2 Mastery Mastery

The Exams

Exams Features…• benchmarked to the CEFR (6 levels) • valid for life• recognized internationally• recognized by the Ministry of Education in ČR, employers and

Czech universities• based on communicative method• assessed by independent examiners in London (both written

and spoken exams) • flexible preparation materials

The IESOL Exams

Communicator Level B2

Skills and Focus Task Format

Writing 1

Respond appropriately to a given text to produce a formal response for an

intended public audience

Instruction to respond formally using a written,

graphic or visual input with four content points to be

addressed and the intended reader specified

100-150 words

Writing 2Produce a personal letter, a

narrative or descriptive composition

Instruction to write an informal piece of writing for

a specified reader on a general subject not requiring specialist

knowledge

150-200 words

The IESOL Communicator Level (B2) Assessment Criteria

CRITERIA DESCRIPTION MARKS

task fulfillment A measure of how far the candidate has achieved/addressed the task. Has the candidate done what was asked (eg “Write four sentences” – are there four sentences?)

0-3

grammar A measure of the range, appropriacy and accuracy of grammar. 0-3

vocabularyA measure of the range, accuracy and appropriacy of vocabulary. This criterion also includes spelling accuracy. 0-3

structureA measure of coherence and cohesion. How the text is put together. Is there an attempt to link the ideas and to organise them in a coherent manner? We also look at the accurate use of punctuation in this criterion.

0-3

First Class Pass 12 – 10, Pass 9 – 6, Narrow Fail 5, Fail 4 – 0

NOTE: detailed grammar can be found in the IESOL Qualification Handbook

IESOL Task Evaluation 1: An Article

Succeed in City & Guilds pg 16/162


In groups...

•Read the task

•Examine both sample answers

•Evaluate each using the B2 Communicator Level assessment criteria

IESOL Task Evaluation 2: A Formal Letter

Succeed In City & Guilds pg 140/166


In groups...

•Read the task


•Evaluate each using the B2 Communicator Level assessment criteria

The EBC Exams

• Modern written Business English for international communication

• Ministry of Education the ČR accreditation as a standard language exam for civil servants

• In-tray simulation, real business cases• Reading and writing• Results: Fail (less than 60%), Pass (60%+), First Class Pass

(75%+)

The EBC Exams

Level Length & Tasks Reading Skills Writing Skills

1 1 h + 15 minUnderstanding simple internal

and external business communications

Write simple, concise letters Write simple memos.

Draft faxes

2 2 h + 15 min

Understanding internal and external business

communications, e.g. memos and letters, written telephone messages, faxes and emails.

Write concise letters Write memos.Draft faxes.

Prepare other documents for business purposes, e.g.

circular letters and mailshots, press releases and articles

3 2 h 30 min + 15 minUnderstanding internal and

external business communications.

Write concise letters.Write memos.Draft faxes.

Draft other documents for business purposes: notices and invitations, speeches,

agendas and the minutes of meetings, advertisements

and mailshots, press releases, articles and circular

letters.

The EBC Level 2 (B1-B2) Assessment Criteria

CRITERIA DESCRIPTION MARKS

layout assessed on 2 questions only (letter and memorandum) 0-4

mechanics

grammatical accuracy (4 marks)

0-12spelling & punctuation (4 marks)

tone & fluency (4 marks)

content how well the task itself is completed 0-4

fluency = degree of success with which message is conveyedtone = appropriateness of style, register and vocabulary for the purpose of the task

First Class Pass +75 %, Pass +60 %, Fail -60%

EBC Task Evaluation: A Business Letter


EBC Level 2Practice Paper 1

EBC Task Evaluation – A Business Letter

In groups...

•Read the task


•Evaluate each using the EBC Level 2 assessment criteria

In Conclusion

• a successful writing ‘product’ is the direct result of a strong writing ‘process’

• writing is a productive knowledge of register and form, a structured plan and continual feedback throughout this process

• good assessment requires strictly defined criteria, consistency of form but also a degree of the assessor’s own instinct

• The City & Guilds IESOL and EBC materials and practice tests provide a series of thorough, well-structured writing tasks that can make a great addition to your classroom

• The City & Guilds exams are an efficient way to test and assess your students’ writing skills

Do you have any questions?

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Thanks very much for your time!

www.cityandguilds.cz

www.cityandguildsenglish.comThankyou

fluency on paper: the path to successful writing skills troy witt elt signposts, brno 11th september...

Documents

piece of writing

thesesuccessful writing

good writing skills

successful writing skillshow

formal letter

end product

minspart b

good speaking skills