Writing in a new language
Learn how to practise writing familiar phrases from memory, adapt taught sentence patterns and choose details for descriptions in a new language. The quiz checks recognition and writing decisions. Independent writing needs a separate written attempt and feedback.
What a learner can do afterwards
- Distinguish writing from memory from copying, and choose how to check a recall attempt.
- Select a suitable change to a taught sentence pattern, including necessary number and noun changes.
- Identify sentences that describe a chosen subject, and explain how to check a draft.
1 · Read
To write a familiar phrase from memory, put the model away and write what you remember. Afterwards, compare it with the model. The quiz checks your choices about writing. It does not check a written attempt. To check your own writing, make a separate attempt and review it with a teacher.
Priya learns Spanish 'Me gusta la música', meaning 'I like music'. She closes the book and writes it. Then she checks the words and the accent in música. If a part needs fixing, she corrects it and tries that part again with the book closed.
To change one dog to one cat, keep 'Tengo un' and replace perro with gato: 'Tengo un gato'. To change to two cats, keep Tengo and replace 'un perro' with 'dos gatos': 'Tengo dos gatos'. In this pattern, a number greater than one needs a plural noun. Check both the number and noun when choosing a new sentence.
Use a taught pattern that fits your meaning. Spanish 'Me gusta' can be followed by an action word meaning 'to do' something. 'Me gusta leer' means 'I like to read'. Keep Me gusta and replace the action with another one you have learned.
A description gives details about its subject. It can tell what a place is like or what is there. 'Mi casa es pequeña' means 'My house is small'. 'Mi casa tiene un jardín' means 'My house has a garden'. Choose familiar sentences that describe your subject.
Check spelling, marks, word order and endings you have learned. Use a model or feedback. If you looked at the model during an attempt, note which parts needed that help. Other parts may have come from memory. Try the supported parts again later with the model put away.
Write familiar phrases from memory, adapt taught patterns carefully, describe your subject and check your writing afterwards.
Original writing-strategy lessons, Spanish examples, questions and cards written for this dataset.
Three original writing activities and six writing cards written for this dataset.
More to read
Keep your first attempt
Choose a short phrase you have learned. Put the model away and write it. Leave your attempt visible when you check afterwards.
Mark a part you recalled accurately and a part to practise. Write the correction beside your attempt. Later, put both versions away and try again. Compare the attempts to see what changed.
Plan a sentence change
Start with a taught sentence pattern. Decide what new meaning you want. Find the part that must change.
Another animal name may fit the same place. Changing from one animal to several may also change a number word or an ending. Check the changed phrase against a taught example. Keep the words that do not change in their usual order.
Choose details for a description
Pick a person, place or thing. List two details you can express with familiar words. Use a taught sentence pattern for each detail.
Read the sentences together. Do both describe your chosen subject? Check the words and marks against your lesson or ask your teacher for feedback. A short description can still give the reader useful details.
2 · Watch
به انگلیسیTake it off screen
Where it sits
Optional connections
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.