Writing in a New Language · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Writing Words You Already Know

Languages · Language Learning · ages 8-11
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Which of these is an example of swapping a word in a sentence pattern?

    • Reading the sentence again
    • Changing 'I have a dog' to 'I have two cats'
    • Saying the sentence out loud

  2. What does it mean to write a sentence 'from memory'?

    • Writing it without looking, using what you remember
    • Copying it letter by letter from a book
    • Reading it out loud

  3. Writing a few sentences to describe your family for a pen pal is an example of writing in a new language.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Look at the sentence pattern. Which new sentence keeps the same pattern but says something different?

    I have adog
    • I have two cats
    • Dog have I a
    • Have a I dog

  5. Leo memorized the phrase 'me gusta el fútbol' (I like soccer). Which shows he is really writing it from memory?

    • He copies it while looking at the book the whole time
    • He only says it out loud
    • He writes it down without checking the book

  6. Amir is writing a short description of his house for a pen pal. Which sentence fits that job?

    • Hello, how are you?
    • My house is big and has a garden.
    • Fútbol is my favorite sport.

  7. Tom knows the pattern 'I like ___.' He wants to write about his new hobby, painting. Which sentence follows the pattern correctly?

    • I like painting.
    • I like ___ hobby new.
    • Painting I like.

  8. Zara wants to prove she memorized a phrase, so she writes it while peeking at her notebook every few words. Did she truly write it from memory?

    • Yes, because she wrote every word herself
    • Yes, because it is the same phrase either way
    • No, peeking means she was copying instead of remembering
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_aq8JZdKD3m-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Writing Words You Already Know W1-mt_aq8JZdKD3m-s1

  1. Changing 'I have a dog' to 'I have two cats' · Swapping means you keep the pattern but change one part to say something new.
  2. Writing it without looking, using what you remember · Writing from memory means the words come from your own head, not from copying a page.
  3. True · Describing people you know, in your own simple sentences, is exactly this kind of writing.
  4. I have two cats · Only the last part changed. The rest of the pattern, 'I have a,' stayed the same.
  5. He writes it down without checking the book · Checking the book the whole time is copying, not writing from memory.
  6. My house is big and has a garden. · A description of a place tells what it looks like, using simple sentences.
  7. I like painting. · Swapping the word into the same spot in the pattern keeps the sentence correct.
  8. No, peeking means she was copying instead of remembering · Peeking partway through still means she leaned on the page instead of her memory.
Worksheet · LightMySky