Poll: Speaking and Writing Difficult for Students
In a recent informal poll, teachers in the U.S. report that extended
speaking and writing continue to be difficult for students. The causes
can vary from student to student, but simple concrete steps can help learners across a broad spectrum. These same strategies were incorporated into the Third Edition of NorthStar and have contributed to the series’ widespread popularity. …
Solutions for Speaking
- Draw more out of your learners with interesting
topics. If students only have to exchange facts, speaking activities won’t go very far. If, however, their minds are challenged and they have to describe nuanced opinions, you will find that they will work harder at expressing themselves. Both fluency and accuracy are important if you want the other person to understand you.
- Structure speaking activities. Students need very controlled exercises to get used to new language points. They also
need less-controlled exercises that allow more creativity. These two types of support activities will better prepare them for the extended speaking exercise that ends every lesson in NorthStar.
- There is more to extended speaking than just “now discuss,” and NorthStar works hard to provide both interesting topics and well-structured units.
Solutions for Writing
- Interesting topics! (Are you noticing a pattern?) Experienced teachers will tell you that a boring writing subject is certain to get low effort from the students. An unusual question or a highly relevant topic will engage the students and make
them want to write more. If the material they are writing is more complex, students will strive to make it more accurate.
- Assign writing that is read by someone in addition to the teacher. If students know that their only audience is
their instructor and the only result of their writing is a grade, they will be less likely to push themselves. But:
- if students read each others work and discuss the issues, or
- if the writing is published in a blog, or
- if it is used for any communicative purpose at all
students will be better motivated and will produce work that will impress you.
- Each unit of NorthStar ends with an extended, process-based production activity. By including
unusual subject matter and assigning communicative purpose to the writing, the books ensure that students push themselves further.
Ask your Pearson ELL Specialist about NorthStar or request a sample copy
