When the National Curriculum was first introduced, the
Modern Languages brief talked about creativity.
However, nobody could quite decide what that meant so the word was
removed. Arguably anyway all writing is creative: it creates something in the
reader. Also the writer has to be creative with the tools at her disposal to
create the desired response in the reader – whether that be a poem, a letter to
the paper or a tax return.
Being able to write exactly what you want in a foreign
language may seem like a very ambitious goal for a learner, particularly a new
learner.
I argue here that someone new to a language can use that of which
they have mastery to achieve much if they use their knowledge and skills creatively.
Watch this space for exercises that encourage that creativity. I'll be post
those over the coming weeks.
I'll also show how those who are more fluent in a foreign
language can use this ability to improve their writing in their own language.
I've used the techniques I'll be describing when I was a
teacher of languages in high schools and also when I've taught creative writing
in higher education.
No comments:
Post a Comment