9.9
Assessment task

Below you will see ten statements made by FL teachers about how they deal with writing in the classroom. They are all comments that we could probably identify with in some way. Select five statements and for each of them explain what advice you might give the tutor on his or her particular situation. You should include in your notes references to specific sections of this module, and you should also try to include information gained from the 'Recommended further reading' (section 9.8). You should aim to write about 3,000 words in total, or about 600 words on each statement.

1. My students don't seem to be that bothered about writing. It's just something they know is expected of them, they sort of do it mechanically. I don't really give it much thought, to be honest....
2. They're really weak. The only way to get the writing sorted out is to learn it the hard way. I correct everything and get the students to rewrite the piece if necessary.
3. They [my students] are really at such a low level, you can't tackle writing in class, it's too difficult for them.
4. I just don't know what to do - I seem to correct their work time and time again and they still keep on making the same mistakes.
5. I remember doing prose translations every week when I was at university. Every week, the paper came back flooded with red ink. I don't suppose it did us any harm, but I wouldn't want to put my students through that.
6. All I ever hear around here is that standards in writing are falling and that students are not as good as they used to be. I've almost ended up believing it myself!
7. My students would never 'buy' writing in class. It's not even worth the attempt.
8. Why bother with the process approach? It just takes up loads of time and the students still need to see models anyway, so what's the point?
9. Creative writing? There's no time for that in my class!
10. The atmosphere's so awful in the group, I'd hardly dare attempt peer evaluation.

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