Adding a grade at GCSE and A level

Graham Smith

The plan

• Mode continuum visual• Mode continuum text type• A key linguistic resource: nominalisation• Teaching

– teachers– classes– small groups/1 to 1

• The difference

3

The mode continuum

_____________________________

(adapted from Martin 1984)

The mode continuum

informalface-to-facechat small group problem-solving tasks reporting back on a task news spoken information reports speeches and debates

most spoken like most written like

language accompanying action class discussions teacher talk reading aloud

(adapted from Martin 1984)

From describing events to explaining processes

• It was raining heavily. The rivers flooded.• It rained heavily so the rivers flooded.• The rivers flooded because of heavy rainfall.• Heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding.• Intense precipitation in surrounding hills caused

widespread flooding over low-lying ground.

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

Grade A

The EAL teacher's role is very complex. The complexity of the EAL teacher`s role is considerable.

Nominalisation

Teaching

• Train teachers• Whole class teaching • 1 to 1 or very small group (especially at A

level)

Impact: 5 A*-C EM at GCSE

2005 201330

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

Chart Title

England EALIslington EAL

%

ach

ievi

ng