To Silvia on writing ability at primary school.

In Russia we develop all 4 abilities and starting with the 2nd term we evaluate these skills by testing. It seems to me writing is always important while learning a language as a way of developing our memory e.g.We start teaching to write very soon and the first mini-stories are "About  myself", Invitation cards and so on. Writing as a skill is tested and evaluated at our final exams at a secondary school, that's why it is seriously considered.I must confess this skill, writing,  is the weakest poin among the students of different ages. We have special programmes for developing  a writing skill, different forms of dictations and tests in writing. But I cant' t say we have a clear system or a system of testing the levels in writing. There is a system of assessment(the criteria) of writing skill at different classes: primary, middle stage, senior classes. As for our students' English level ( do you mean the beginner, the intermidiate and so on?) our  pupils at primary school don't know it - the teachers have the criteria for the assessment and evaluation, the students also know these criteria. When we give the students a final mark for the term they have only one general mark for all the 4 skills, but not a separate mark for each skill (unfair, to my mind), though we always comment on each mark and assess each ability both to the student and the parents.I'd be glad to hear smb's experience, Olga

Dear all,

Hi Olga :)!

My question is: shouldn't one learn a foreign language the same way he/she have learnt his/her mother tongue?

I'm asking this because in Italy children often start writing the English language as soon as they start learning it, when they're 6, at primary school. Some of them have done some pre-school activities before (some Nursery/Reception/Kindergarden classes organise English modules) but it is optional.

English being a language with a huge gap between spelling and pronunciation, that is often confusing, also because the children are learning how to write the Italian language at the same time.

When teching primary school children (I've been working with them last year and this year, covering a long maternity leave), I've always focused on the oral language, giving low importance to writing. And when evaluating a child's level of English, I used to stick to speaking and listening, then in the following 2 years I started to test some reading and only then writing.

When learning our mother tongue, none of us has started with writing...we learnt how to understand first, then we started to say some words and sentences, then we could read a little bit and only later someone taught us how to write.

In my opinion, the process of learning a language, no matter what language we learn, has to be made the most possible natural and the most natural way to learn a language is the way all of us have learnt our mother tongue.

That is why I consider testing writing one of the last things we should do at that age.

I'd love to know what all of you think about it.

Silvia.

Hi Silvia,

your question is a very interesting one for me, especially as I live in Italy too.

Though you make an interesting point about learning a foreign language in the same way we learn our mother tongue, I think we have to accept from the start that this is impossible. Kids would have to be exposed to the language for far more hours a day than primary schools can afford to give them.

I agree with your point about writing, it's difficult in Italy because when children are in the first year of primary school they are already six years old and are just learning to write. I teach quite a few of these children, but in my own language school and not in their primary school.

I actually think  that speaking and writing can go hand in hand. Speaking is very often overlooked when teaching English. The children do a lot of songs (fun but not so useful in my opinion) but they don't really learn many structures such as "I like/don't like", simple verbs etc.

 I think they need to learn lots of words and write them down to not forget them, but it's even more important to actually use them in simple phrases.

 A lot of parents complain that in 5 years of primary school kids just learn colours, numbers, body, house and rooms, animals and a few other things. I think a few structures put to good use would make a big difference.

Most young people from the middle and secondary schools who come to me really lack speaking skills more than anything else because they concentrate on literature and grammar but hardly ever practice. So for me, speaking is the most important thing to do in a classroom. The grammar needs to be explained, of course, but writing exercises can then be done at home. If the teacher only spends a few hours a week with a class, I think it's essential they do as much oral practice as possible.

What do you think? I'd be interested to hear your comments,

Jane

Hi! Sorry for not having replied yet..I'll be with you again early next week! Have a nice week end!