Teaching Writing Skills course aims to develop the teaching of
writing skills to second and foreign language students.
Who is the course suitable for?
- Native and non-native teachers of English
- Teachers of second language and foreign languages
- Teachers who are interested in developing the pedagogic knowledge and practice of teaching writing skills
What are the entry requirements?
To be registered on the Language Enhancement for Teachers
course you need to fulfil all of the requirements below:/p>
- Minimum of 18 years of age
- First language proficiency in English
- Minimum of a National Senior Certificate (Grade 12)
- A degree is highly recommended
What are the aims and objectives of the course?
On completion of the course, candidates will:
- Have an understanding of the writing process
- Be familiar with different types of writing genres
- Have an understanding of the two main writing approaches
- Have developed the skills to teach the two main writing approaches
- Be familiar with students’ problems with handwriting and spelling
- Have developed an awareness of the role of cohesion and coherence in writing
- Have developed correction and feedback skills for students’ written work
- Have developed skills to encourage students to self-correct and edit their writing
- Have an understanding of the role of journal writing for students and teachers
How is the course structured?
In the input sessions, our trained and experienced teacher trainers
will cover theoretical aspects of the course, such as characteristics
and needs related to teaching writing skills, teaching methodology
and the basic principles of writing. The practical component
provides trainees with the opportunity to plan and present activities,
lessons and projects, using the knowledge acquired in developing
their English skills. These practical sessions are observed by
experienced trainers who provide constructive feedback and help
you to develop your teaching writing skills.
What approach is used?
The Teaching Writing Skills course approach involves participatory
learning, where trainees are very much involved in the learning
and teaching process. Most input sessions will focus on trainees
discovering new concepts and information relating to developing
their teaching writing skills, through discussions, research, projects,
activities and presentations.
What will the course include?
- Writing as a process
- From the beginning
- Why learn to write
- How people write
- Writing and speaking
- Implications for learning and teaching
- Describing written text
- Different purposes, different writing
- Differences within a genre
- Text construction
- Implications for learning and teaching
- Writing in the language classroom
- Writing for learning
- Writing for writing
- The tasks of the teacher in writing
- The nuts and bolts of writing
- The mechanics of writing
- The handwriting challenge
- Teaching handwriting
- The spelling challenge
- Teaching spelling
- Teaching pronunciation
- Sentence, paragraph and text
- ‘Worked-on’ writing
- Process and genre
- Generating ideas
- Analysing genres
- Making a plan
- Examples of ‘worked-on’ writing process
- Project work
- Writing for exams
- Responding, correcting and guiding
- Ways of reacting to students’ writing
- Ways of correcting students’ work
- Ways of responding to students’ work
- Peer review
- Training students to self-edit and self-correct
- Making homework successful
- Journal writing
- A different kind of writing
- Journal writing benefits
- Before, during and after
- Teacher journals
How long is the course?
The Teaching Writing Skills course is a 40-hour contact course
which includes observed and assessed teaching practice. The
classes are held three evenings per week, running over a period
of four weeks.
What are the methods of assessment?
Assessment is continuous and includes a final exam. Trainees are
required to build and submit a portfolio of evidence for assessment,
which will contain assignments, completed projects, micro
teaching evidence and teaching practice lessons. Participation
and attendance is also considered as a major part of assessment
since you will be required to participate in several tasks, activities
and presentations, either in groups or individually, throughout the
What certification is issued?
On successful completion of the course, trainees will receive a
Certificate of Competence in Teaching Writing Skills from the Wits
Apply now for the Teaching Writing Skills course.