developing functional english - writing

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

‘As (learners) read and discuss an increasing range of text types, their implicit understanding of style will be extended and made more explicit. They can then draw on this knowledge for their own writing.’

(p 121 Adult Literacy Core Curriculum)

Using reading tasks to prepare for writing

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

‘learners need to be encouraged to read as writers’

The link between reading and writing

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

Exploring language features of texts

gather good examples of the type of texts your learners need to write often at school, college or work placement –

- assignments - reflective accounts

- instructions - incident reports

- care plans - messages in day books

use them as a basis to show learners key features of the text in terms of content and presentation

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

use a variety of activities to highlight examples of how the texts are written to reflect their purpose and audience -

Text level- how information is chosen, how graphics are used, how headings are used, how ideas are linked

Sentence level- typical sentence structures & linking words, how punctuation is used to help the reader, use of bullets

Word level- how words are used effectively, key spelling words, formal and informal vocabulary

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

Shared writing

Guided writing- writing frames

Independentwriting

Shared reading to explore language features

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

Literacy Across the Curriculum

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

What is grammar?

‘Grammar is the study of how we make sentences’

David CrystalMaking Sense of Grammar

Developing grammar – two approaches

- teacher explains ‘rules’ of grammar for learners to practise in exercises (didactic)

- teacher helps learners discover patterns for themselves in real life texts

(investigative)

Deductive Inductive

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

Grammar – what should we focus on?

Text

Sentence

Word

• subject-verb agreement• consistent use of tense• simple, compound, complex structures

• endings to show plurals e.g. lorry > lorries• word building e.g. sad + ness, work + er

• use of connectives to link ideas

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

Incident report

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

X Mind – free mindmapping software

Language and context

Mankind is No Island

Road Safety Commercial

Polar Bear Rescue

http://www.youtube.com/v/Wj-L_7jLVbg

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

Drop down form field options

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

Click icon to add picture

Word Magnets

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

I work in a charity shop two days a week. I help to sort out clothes at the back but also serve customers. I deal with their queries and handle money. I label goods for display and I tidy the book shelves. Often I cash up and check the float at the end of the day.

Re-write activities

1. Re-write the text beginning ‘Sally work 2. Re-write the text beginning ‘Last year Sally

worked...’

The unique setting of Kelling Heath Holiday Park makes it an idea destination for a short break in your touring caravan or your tent. Relax and gently unwind as you take in the panoramic views across the unspoiled heathland towards the undulating coastline of North Norfolk. The Park has a number of walks and cycle paths that guide you through a glorious range of habitats. Our Nature Trail leaflets will quickly help you to discover the fascinating variety of wildlife on the park and explain the careful conservation strategies that we carry out to protect and develop the environment. Discover how your holiday can be both relaxing and educational too for all the family. Whether by foot, cycle or car you can always use the Park as a base to explore the beautiful North Norfolk coastline and countryside.


‘Protect’ is a verb – the others are all adjectives


‘As’ is a conjunction – the others are all nouns.

Job search – plumber

5 tools they use

5 jobs they might do

5 qualities you look for

blow torch, saw, spanner, file, wrench

mend pipes, find leaks, connect

washing machines, change washers,

clean upreliable, tidy, cheap, punctual,

polite

A busy postman walks quickly.

A busy fireman walks quickly.

A busy fireman drives quickly.

A busy fireman drives safely.

The busy fireman drove safely.

The careful fireman drove safely.

Quick make

noun

verb

adverb

determiner

adjective

Countdown

noun verb adverb determiner

adjectiveconjunction

pronoun

shy

quietly

because

doctor

he

danced

the

preposition

in

Countdown

noun verb adverb determiner

adjectiveconjunction

pronoun

quietly

because

doctor

he

dancedthe

preposition

in the dark

was shy

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

The hype

about text messaging

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

Young people who text are –

‘.. vandals who are doing to our language what Genghis Khan did to his neighbours eight hundred years ago. They are destroying it: pillaging our punctuation; savaging our sentences; raping our vocabulary. And they must be stopped.’

John Humphreys, Daily Mail, Sept 2007

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion ‘All the popular beliefs about

texting are wrong , or at least debatable . …there is increasing evidence that it helps rather than hinders literacy.’

David Crystal - txtng the gr8 db8 OUP 2008

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

dad@hvn usrsphl we want wot us want &urth2b like hvn giv us food & 4giv r sins lyk we 4giv uvaz don’t test us! save us! bcos we know ur boss ur tuf & ur cool 4 eva! ok?

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

u shall luv ur mobil fon with all ur hart u & ur phone shall neva b apartu shall nt lust aftr ur neibrs fone nor thievu shall b prepard @ all times 2 txt and 2 recvu shall use LOL & othr acronyms in conversatnsu shall be zappy with ur asr*r*sks & ex!matns!u shall abbrevi8 & rite words like theyr sedu shall nt speak 2 sum 1 face2face if u cn msg em insteadu shall nt shout with capitals XEPT IN DIRE EMERGNCYu shall nt consult a nglish dictnry

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

Sniglets

• kellogulation• circumtreeviation• polygrouch• footbrawl• toastophobia• lactomangulation• aquadextrous• brakenoia

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sniglet• http://bertc.com/subfour/truth/sniglets.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sniglet

http://bertc.com/subfour/truth/sniglets.htm

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

I’m sorry I haven’t got a clue

• pasteurize• protein• relief• avoidable• legend• innuendoes• decadent

= invisible= an enthusiastic youth

worker= what trees do in the

autumn= what toreadors try to do = where your toes are= Italian suppositories= someone with 10 teeth

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

Dingbats

http://www.kensquiz.co.uk/table-top-quizzes/word-puzzles/dingbats



asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

Question 1 Which sentence is correct?

(a) We were late.(b) We was late.(c) We is late.

a b cCorrect! Try again! Try again!

Next question

Question 2 Which sentence is correct?

(a) He go to Norwich every day.(b) He is going to Norwich every day.(c) He goes to Norwich every day.

a b cCorrect!Try again! Try again!

Next question

Question 3 What kind of sentence is this?

The man walked down the road and turned the corner.

simple complex compoundCorrect!Try again! Try again!

Next question

Question 4 Which language feature is typical of a setof instructions?

(a) Imperative verbs (b) Informal language (c) Consistent use of the past tense

a b cCorrect! Try again! Try again!

Next question

Question 5 Read the paragraph of text on the next slide. Which of the following sums up the tone?

(a) formal (b) persuasive (c) logical

a b cTry again!Try again! Correct

Click to read

Braingames

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion • modelling active reading

• use of graphic organisers• text marking• decision making/classifying activities• proofreading• sequencing • table reconstruction• ranking• ‘jigsaw’ and snowball activities• mind mapping software

Teaching strategies

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

Active learning approaches

‘We learn by doing. Research shows that active learning is much better recalled, enjoyed and understood. Active methods require us to ‘make our own meaning’, that is, develop our own conceptualisations of what we are learning.’

(Teaching Today: a Practical Guide Geoff Petty 2004)

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

Listening

Practice by doing

Teaching others, immediate use of learning

Discussion group

Demonstration

Audio-visual

Reading

5%

10%

20%

30%

50%

75%

90%

Learning retention

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

Encourages ‘deep’ alongside ‘surface’ learningEnables learners to

tackle problems that are harder & more realistic than those they could do alone

Challenges learners to recognise language features, patterns, rules for themselves

Uses whole texts to explore language in use

Not a passive ‘mug and jug’ approach to literacy teaching

Uses reading tasks to prepare for writing activities

Active Learning in Functional English

teaching

asso

ciat

ion

of c

olle

ges

in th

e ea

ster

n re

gion

Active Learning – 10 pedagogies

QIA Excellence Gateway

developing functional english - writing

Education