Learning and Teaching Process Impact on Learning
Invitation
Our school is going to hold a food festival. Every student should write a letter to invite a friend to join the event.
Details of the food festival:
Date: 15th November 20XX (Sunday)
Time: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Venue: School Hall
Progressive Secondary School 116 Tai Hang Road
Causeway Bay Hong Kong Number of stalls: 15
Food variety: Japanese, Chinese, American, Mexican
Types of food served: sushi, green tea noodles, dim sum, fried noodles, spring rolls, hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches, tacos, burritos, desserts and many more
1. Students are asked to work on a task entitled “Food Festival”, which involves writing a letter to invite a friend to take part in a food festival that their school is going to organise.
Students are engaged in an authentic context which is close to their daily life experience.
Through examining the nature and context of the task, students gain an insight into the purpose(s) for using the language items they are about to learn.
Students develop the ability to
understand the importance of grammar in performing
communicative tasks in English;
focus on the most important and relevant language items needed for the task; and
interact and
communicate using the target language items and understand how the language items serve the communicative functions in a text.
Students construct knowledge about the key language item through considering ample examples and developing a hypothesis about its use.
Students’ understanding of the use of the language item in an invitation letter is enhanced.
Before the task
2. Students are presented with a sample letter in which they are guided to identify the key language items and structures, and note their use in the context of an invitation letter. Students are encouraged to reflect on how grammar knowledge helps them make sense of the text.
8 December 20XX Dear Parents,
We would like to invite you to the Secondary One Christmas Party on 20 December. The party will start at six o'clock at the Hall of Lak Sing Middle School.
The Secondary One Choir will sing English and Chinese Christmas songs, and the Secondary One Drama Club will perform a very funny Christmas skit. There will also be other performances. After the performances, there will be delicious snacks and drinks.
Please return the reply slip to your child by 15 December. We hope to see you on 20 December.
Best wishes,
Organising Committee
Secondary One Christmas Party 20XX Lak Sing Middle School
3. As prepositions of time are among the typical language items used in the task, more examples of their use are provided to the students. Students are asked to note how the prepositions are used in the context of an invitation letter and share their observations with the class. The teacher confirms / corrects their observations and further explains the use of the prepositions.
Reply Slip
I, (name), parent of _______________ of class ______, shall / shall not be able to join the Christmas Party on 20 December.
4. Students practise the language item by completing a gap-filling exercise with prepositions of time.
Exercise - Prepositions of Time
Complete the sentences with the following prepositions - at, by, from, to, on or until
A birthday party
I would like to invite you to my birthday party 18 May.
Please send back your reply _____ 18 April.
The party will be held _____ 6:00 p.m. _____ 1:00 a.m.
The dance will be _____ 8:00 p.m. _____ midnight.
_____ midnight everyone will eat dumplings.
I have arranged a coach to take you home 12:30 a.m.
You are welcome to stay _____ 1:00 a.m.
A Christmas wedding
Christmas is _____ Saturday this year.
The wedding banquet will start _____ eight o'clock in the evening.
The invitations must be sent out _____ 5:00 p.m. _____
Tuesday.
The wedding presents will not be opened _____ Boxing Day.
5. In pairs / groups, students further practise using the prepositions of time by completing another gap-filling exercise in the form of an invitation
Complete the following letter with appropriate prepositions 10 November, 20XX Dear Jack,
We would like to invite you to Suki's 14th birthday party. It is a surprise party so please do not tell her. The party is _____ 18 November.
We have rented a room at the Oasis Hotel in Wanchai. There will be food, drinks, music, dancing and karaoke. We think everyone will have lots of fun.
The party is _____ six o'clock _____ nine o'clock. However, if you arrive _____ 5:45 pm, you will be able to shout out
“Surprise” when Suki comes in the door _____ 6:00 pm. So arrive early if you can.
Please let us know _____ 15 November if you can come. Phone us on 9678 9678.
Sincerely, (Suki's Parents)
6. Students write a short letter inviting a friend to a birthday party. The teacher checks students’
progress and gives guidance and feedback.
Through engaging in meaningful, focused practice that progresses from exercises with discrete items to
contextualised activities, students develop their capabilities to
use the target language item accurately and appropriately in a text; and
focus on the meaning and function rather than the form of the target language item while getting ready for a task.
During the task
7. Students write a “Food Festival” invitation using a process writing approach. Grammar is dealt with through self-monitoring and peer feedback. Students need to apply their grammar knowledge to write the text.
After the task
8. The teacher gives feedback on the students’
use of prepositions of time and provides further opportunities to revise the language item. For example, students can be asked to make quizzes for their peers by using notices or advertisements of events in the media that show the use of time
prepositions.
Students are given an opportunity to apply their grammar knowledge in an authentic situation that involves meaningful use of the language in a text.
Through self-monitoring and peer feedback, students are able to
initiate self-directed learning;
develop
communication, critical thinking, problem-solving and collaboration skills integratively; and
improve the language of their writing.
Through teacher feedback, students are able to clarify /
consolidate their concepts about the use of the language item.
Through further revision, or extended work,
students’ grammar knowledge is reinforced.