I will show participants the many ways in which writing can be incorporated into an English-language curriculum. In short, whenever there is a communication activity, i.e. speaking, there are opportunities to incorporate a short writing element. I will show you how to tie in both aspects of active communication. I will also show how such a perspective is not an either-or proposition: it’s not a case of either helping students to improve their speaking or their writing. Participants will learn that the medium of writing assists the student in being a better speaker – and vice-versa.

The most effective writing exercises are those that mirror requirements in one’s daily life. This session is not interested in all types of writing, but those that are useful in one’s career and further education. But rather than dive straight into writing long reports or written presentations, I suggest micro-tasks, so as not to overwhelm the learner, in a mixed-communicative environment. For example, we write out the opening lines of a talk they are giving or the main idea in a future presentation. By focusing on sub-tasks and ensuring a successful and educational experience, students feel emboldened and motivated to attempt more ambitious tasks. The business of style, syntax, and grammar are discussed through the actual writing tasks, where their relevance is more clearly seen and the principles remembered longer.