Let’s finish this week by focusing on developing learners’ writing skills in an online classroom. While an online teacher’s approach to writing skills will be similar to that of a teacher in a face-to-face classroom, there are some differences due to the nature of teaching online.

Task 1

Watch Lindsay and Marie Therese talking about teaching writing skills online and take notes on the things below to help you do the next task.

Please write your notes on a piece of paper

Task 2

Imagine you’re teaching a writing lesson to a B2-level one-to-one adult learner, who’s preparing for university. The lesson focus is on structuring a paragraph in an essay.

Read these five tasks which make up the lesson. Which are you likely to do in class? Which are you likely to do out of class? Why? Use your notes from task 1 to help you.

1. You provide the learner with a model essay paragraph and ask the learner to identify where the main point is stated (the topic sentence) and the purpose of the other sentences (supporting details).

2. You ask the learner to put five sentences in the correct order to create a cohesive and coherent paragraph.

3. You ask the learner to write an essay paragraph on a topic already discussed in a previous lesson.

4. You ask the learner to write a complete essay.

5. You provide feedback to the learner on the quality of their essay.

Check your answers.

Reflect and share

Think of a writing lesson you teach face-to-face. How do you think you might need to adapt it when teaching online? Why? Share your ideas in the comments.