Korean Job Discussion Forums

[iiicalypso]

I am teaching TOEFL writing to middle school students, most of whom have advanced writing skills (at least as good as the high school juniors I used to teach in the US) and I am scrapping for any lesson ideas people have. So far I have worked on writing strategies, grammar and structure issues, paragraph development and the like. I hated the book I was using so much that I abandoned it, and now I am on my own. All of the websites I have found deal either with beginning writing or simple grammar. Any suggestions?

[Mr. Pink]

There are books you can buy.

I used one by Baron's...Can't remember the exact name something about TOEFL Computer Based ESSAY.

It pretty much covers everything.

The way I teach it is I introduce students how to do basic essay writing.
Let them get comfortable with doing topics/outlines/thesises/introductions and conclusions by using an "open topic". Then start with 1 of the 4 different TOEFL style essay questions.
Explain how to identify the style of question. Then get them to practice answering the questions. Teach them how to build solid essays based on the questions.

Buy the book, gives you like 200+ essay questions. Also gives sample essays, so you can teach with those too. Show your students how the essay is good. Also after they tackle the topic they can see it as an example of what TOEFL is looking for.

[iiicalypso]

[sadsac]

Have you tried free expression. Allow the students 10 to 15 minutes to write their thoughts or perceptions on a photo or news article and then have the students correct another students writing. You offer assistance when and where it is needed. Let them use their skills and their imaginations. I found this successful with some adults that I taught. Another good book that I have found very useful is Grammar Dictation, by Oxford University Press, it offers a new set of challenges to the students.

[Mr. Pink]

If you want to get away from the TOEFL topics and just have them do regular essays and work on their writing there are dozens of options there.

I am not sure what you have covered with them, but doing more creative writing could be worth it.

Also look into Essay Contests. There are craploads going around the country at any given time. Those are also a good incentive for the kids. You get them to try out for the contests...

[Scott in HK]

I have never taught TOEFL writing...but if it is the basic five paragraph essay form...then you can find a wealth of info on the net on how to write the basic five paragraph essay...

some things to work on for most students...

transitions sentences and connecting thoughts within paragraphs..my hk students are hopeless at this...

editing during a test...either rewriting as you write...or going back and doing a good edit before the test is complete....

speed writing...making sure they can their thoughts down on paper fast enough to leave time for editing at the end...

work with the idea of audience and how writing styles change depending on your intended reader...

dialogue journals are a great way for the students to write with a purpose and about real life things...

I agree with the 10-15 mins of free writing...show them a picture or a quick topic and get them to write without stopping for 10 mins...helps build up their confidence of coming up with ideas quickly...

thesaurus work...students get comfortable using the same words...get them to change the words in an essay so that it reads the same...

in the end all writing helps...so yo could look at doing some fiction writing...or holding some sort of written debate where groups argue some point through a series of letters to the editor...