CAPES 8 : Four Skills - Writing

Writing is perhaps the most difficult of the four skills to acquire ; it has been noticed that children who are having difficulties in school may do quite well in their foreign language class up until the time they are expected to enter fully into the written language, when they begin to slip back to the same level that they have in other subjects. You should have a look at the textbooks used by teachers of French, and study the exercises in writing that they offer. If possible, have a word with a teacher of French about how she works on written production.

You will not begin by expecting extended written work from the pupils right from the start ; their work may need considerable scaffolding. On the other hand, one may question how useful it is to ask them to produce isolated sentences ; it is perhaps preferable to help them to construct more elaborate and meaningful pieces of writing. Look through a textbook for 6e and see how the authors approach the written language. Do the exercises lead the children to the construction of discursive texts, or do they produce small bits of writing with little attempt at linking?

Many teachers think that classroom time spent on extended writing is time wasted, and that it is preferable for the children to do their written work at home. Do you agree with this?

(If you have a question of a comment, write to me at tmason@timothyjpmason.com)