HOW CAN THE STANDARD-FEATURES WORD-PROCESSING PROGRAMS BE EXPLOITED FOR TEACHING WRITING SKILLS?

                     

The standard-features word-processing programs are such a fantastic aid for both teachers and students. These standard-features word-processing programs can be highly exploited for teaching writing skills since it they have several advantages. For instance, it is easy for students to handle with that kind of programs such as Microsoft word. The students can make plenty of mistakes, and their direct application to process writing, especially for the process of drafting, revising, and editing is rewarding for both the teacher and the student.

So, since we nowadays there are new and pretty useful tools, we, as teachers should warn our students to use such tools so that they can develop their writing skill.   

 Whenever the students make a mistake, they can just delete the wrong word or sentence and then just rewrite it without having to retype what they do. Moreover, the students have the option of saving their texts and edit it all over again.  Also, the teacher can check the mistakes and send the corrections through an e-mail or even write the suggestions right next to the wrong word or sentence. The students can freely make the number of changes they consider necessary. Teachers should take advantage of word-processing programs to exploit their students writing skills because in that way they are teaching their students and at the same time the students are practicing constantly their writing skill.

 

According to a source I found on the Internet, twelve or fifteen years ago, the vast majority of written work produced by EFL or ESL students was handwritten; only in very high-level Academic English courses was normal to expect students to hand in type-written work. The increasing ubiquity of the computer in educational environments, along with the growth in sophistication and ease-of-use of word-processing packages, has changed the situation dramatically, however, and students at many levels and in many types of courses are now encouraged to hand in word-processed work -- indeed, many of us now teach word-processing skills as part of ESL and EFL courses, and the word-processor is beginning to be exploited as an effective tool in developing writing skills.So, since we nowadays there are new and pretty useful tools, we, as teachers should warn our students to use such tools so that they can develop their writing skill.  

It is really nice that we teachers use such tools for teaching purposes. Thus, the students may feel more interested in practicing their writing and their reading as well. It is a great idea to have our students make writing activities and write free texts such as journal entries so that they type their entries and send them by e-mail; then, you check the mistakes and send them to your students so that they retype them. It makes learning more accessible, and promotes improved learning.

So, since we nowadays there are new and pretty useful tools, we, as teachers should warn our students to use such tools so that they can develop their writing skill.