Motivating ESL Learners to Refine

Writing Skills

By Saima Abedi

What is Motivation?

• Motivation is derived from the word ’motive’

which means needs, desires, wants or drives

within the individuals.

• It is the process of stimulating people to

actions to accomplish the goals.

REASONS FOR BEING AN UNMOTIVATED WRITER

• Lack Of Planning• Writer’s Block • Limited Vocabulary • Monotonous Methods To Teach Writing

Activity 1(Individual)

Free Writing• Pick up your pen.• Start writing as soon as the music starts

and stop when it finishes.• Write what ever comes to your mind . .

Time: 5min

Safe JournalingPour Down Thoughts And Feelings On

Paper

• Removes writers’ blocks • Curtails down stress• Generates, expands and preserves ideas • Enhances creative and observational skills• Analyzes mistakes and tracks progress

Background Music (BGM)

Change Mundane Classroom Atmosphere

• Increases concentration • Enhances creative skills• Strengthens imaginative power. • Improves behaviour and on-task performance

Activity 2(Group Work)

• Put the given strips (9) in order.• Make sure that you have a reason for

this sequence.• Share your sequence with other participants.

Time: 15min

ModellingProvide Useful Reading Material For

Scaffolding

• Consolidates theme based vocabulary• Exposes to appropriate structures • Inspires and influences writers • Learner understands what and how to do.• Learner attains a control over behaviour.

Activity 3(Group Work)

Mystery Objects:• Choose an object. Describe the object, using the

headings below.• Size:• Shape:• Colour:• Smell:• Taste:• Texture:

Time: 15min

Variety of Teaching Methodologies

Diversify Teaching StrategiesWriting task becomes easy and interesting

Examples:• Brainstorming: Generates multitude of ideas and

stimulates thinking

• Use of Graphic Organizers: Orders ideas ( e.g. Venn diagram, Five W’s Chart, Time line and Story Map )

• Interactive Games: Trigger students’ observational and thinking skills. (e.g. Mystery Objects, Guessing and Code Breaking games)

• Supply Prompts: Provide building block (e.g. picture, phrase, dialogue, introduction/ starters )

• Role Plays: Practice dialogue writing in a safe environment.

Activity 4(Group Work)

Role Play: Flunked in Exam• Decide your role in group.• Write and practise your dialogue with your

group mates.• Enact

Time: 20 min

Activity 5(Group Work)

Picture Story• Put the pictures in the correct order• Suggest a title for the story• Compose the story using the given plan.• Share your story with other groups.

Time: 20min

Use of PromptsHelp The Learners To Improve Writing

Skills • Enriches writers’ knowledge• Boosts creativity • Enhances critical thinking skills • Makes the learners comfortable • Gives a direction to let creative juices flow• Learner acquires own style.

Real Purpose for Writing

Motivate Writers by Real Audience

• Use of prior knowledge• Evokes interest• Learners’ write enthusiastically.Examples:• Describe any of your belonging without which you will be gloomy.• Email to friend informing how you spent your weekend.• Compose a letter to editor telling about the miseries of students’ lives.• Debate about the necessity of mobile phones in school.• Write directions of your house.

Activity (Pair Work)

Code Breaker:• Decode the message.• Use the code key to break the code.

Time: 5min

Conclusion

Understand the power of writing as it controls lives and influences future.

Thank You