Activity B

Beliefs about writing

Some people may believe that writing is all about the mechanics and that getting the mechanics right is all it takes to be a good writer. This activity will give tutors an opportunity to explore their own beliefs about writing. This, in turn, will make it possible for them to better assist their learners.

Reflection, discussion

STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS

  1. Divide the room into four areas:
    • strongly agree
    • agree
    • disagree
    • strongly disagree
  2. Read the following statements and ask tutors to move to the area that best fits with their beliefs. After reading each statement, and once tutors have moved to their selected spot, ask tutors to discuss why they chose that particular area. If you have a large group, you may want to read only a few statements or limit the amount of response to each statement.
    • Reading and writing should be taught together.
    • Writing instruction should be carried out over an extended period. That way, tutors can observe the learners’ writing and adjust their teaching strategies based on their observations.
    • Since tutors have more experience writing and more knowledge of the skills necessary for effective writing than learners do, they need to correct all the learners’ writing mistakes.
    • It’s okay for learners to use temporary spelling (like spelling a word the way it sounds) if they don’t know how to spell the word correctly.
    • The main purpose of writing instruction is to develop good editing skills.
    • Lack of spelling, grammar and punctuation makes writing so difficult that it is best to postpone writing instruction until the learners develop these skills.
    • We learn to write by writing.
  3. Sum up by saying that some of our beliefs about writing and writing instruction may need to change if we are going to effectively help our learner develop good writing skills.

Facilitation tip

For tutors, as for learners and everyone else, some beliefs about writing are deeply rooted. It won’t be easy to change them just because someone says they are wrong. So instead of setting out to change tutors’ beliefs outright, see this as a first step towards that goal. Help your tutors understand their misconceptions and begin to shift their thinking and then do the same for their learners.