Writing: First Certificate - Check list

Are your students lay back and quite lazy? Well, mine are. So after thinking of an idea to get them spend more time when writing essays I came up with this Check-list to help them make the most of their writing. 

COPY-PASTE THE CHECK-LIST BELOW AND PRINT IT OUT.

Check-list

Once you are done with your essay, re-read and make sure you have done the following:

ESSAY-CHECK LIST

•   1^st paragraph: re-write the topic sentences by rephrasing it (writing it with your own words, or by changing it a bit)

•  1^st paragraph: say why is important or mention both opinions (Many people believe….. Others, however….)

•  2^nd paragraph: develop the points given in the question. - Include relevant details to support the main idea: these might include examples, rhetorical question or surprising statements... 

•   3^rd Add your own idea (ALWAYS a different idea). Don't forget to give an example.  If you include a drawback, give a possible solution. 

• 4^th Summarise and give your personal opinion

Also remember to:

• Use a semi-formal tone.

•   use linking adverbials or expressions to link ideas.

• Organise your writing clearly into paragraphs.  

 How to use a Check-lists 

A.
1. After collecting the essay and before doing any corrections get students to swap writings. 
2. Hand-out a checklist sheet and get students to read and tick.
3. Then ask them to take back their writing and help them edit and add the missing points.

 B. 
1. Hand-out the checklist sheet and assign homework
2. Remind SS to check the list while writing the essay
3. Collect essays, correct and check if students have used all points.
4. Give essays back and encourage students to add missing points. 

I hope you've found this idea helpful. Give it a go and let me know how it goes. Also, if you have more ideas on how to get them revisit and spend more time on writing please feel free to comment below :)

Fluency: Working with Phrasal verbs

This year I set a challenge to make my students aware of the fact that English is packed with Phrasal verbs and it is what keeps them away from sounding more natural or fluent. Most of them have seen Phrasal Verbs before but have not really paid that much attention or went through the 'noticing stage'.

How I teach phrasal verbs?

1. Present them ALWAYS in context, short dialogues or sentences with clear meaning.
2. Get them to think of the meaning individually and then share their thoughts in pairs. 
3. Get them to look up for more examples or prepare some yourself beforehand. 
4. Analyze the examples and the phrasal verbs. Is it possible to insert a word between a verb and a particle?
5. Ask your students to create a small dialogue or a situation using the phrasal verb.
6. Students take turns to act it out.  
7. Next lesson: Students read out their dialogue again without saying the phrasal verb. The rest of the class listens to the dialogue and guesses the phrasal verb. OR get them to act it out using body language and words.

DOWNLOAD THE WORKSHEETS HERE!!!!!!!!!
fluency-1-phrasal-verbs
fluency-2-phrasal-verbs
fluency-3-phrasal-verbs