Activity B
Written conversations
Written conversations work well for learners who have some experience in writing. They teach the connection between speaking and writing. It’s similar to writing notes in school, when a conversation takes place in writing by the speakers/writers passing a piece of paper back and forth between them. Tutors will learn how to use written conversation in their sessions.
| Discussion, role-play |
STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS
- Ask tutors if they have ever had the kind of conversation where they took turns writing a message and passing the message back and forth, the way children pass notes in school.
- Explain that written conversations are based on the same idea, but that there are a few things to remember when using this method with their learners.
- Don’t correct any spelling or grammar errors.
- Tutors should start the conversation and ask questions so the learner has something concrete to write back.
- Tutors should avoid questions that have a yes or no answer.
- The learner is free to copy words and phrases tutors have used.
- When the learner misspells a word, tutors should try to use that word in their response with the correct spelling.
- Focus on topics of interest that are meaningful to the learner.
- Ask tutors why this might be a good strategy and which learner needs it would meet.
- Have tutors pair up and role-play, with one tutor being the learner and the other the tutor. The ones role-playing the learners should make mistakes in their writing and the ones playing the tutors should model good writing in their responses back.
- Allow two to three minutes and then have the pairs switch roles for another two to three minutes.
- Ask tutors if they can see this method working for their learners and why or why not.
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Activity C
Free writing
Free writing helps to overcome the fear of writing. Tutors will learn how to lead their learners in a free-writing activity. The technique works best for learners who have experience in writing.