Language Teacher Toolkit: Steve Smith's blog

Chapter 8 of our new book for A-level teachers, both trainees and existing practitioners, is titled Teaching the literature essay . In this chapter we go into considerable detail about how to develop students' knowledge, powers of critical analysis and essay writing skill, using six popular texts as samples. The texts chosen are No et moi, L’Étranger, Der Vorleser, Der Besuch des alten Dame, La casa de Bernada Alba and  Como agua para chocolate.  The idea is, however, that these serve as examples for any text from the exam board specifications. In the chapter we look at how to plan the teaching, classrooom activities and how to write about character, thematic content and style. We put forward ways to help students write complex critical and anlaytical sentences and paragraphs, leading up to examples of whole essays. The key is to structure and scaffold the process, rather than dive into essay writing from the outset. To answer the question "What can I do in class when t...

Phew! After nearly six months of work, our book for A-level language teachers, both aspiring and practising, is published. Called Teaching A-Level Modern Languages , priced at £25, you can find it on Amazon here:  https://amzn.eu/d/cyya0pY . Teaching languages at A-level is a both a joy and a challenge and we hope to have shared how students (and teachers) can get the most out of the process. So what's the background here? Steve Glover and I are old friends. He is now based in Paris, while my wife and I moved to London in July. Years ago, the other Steve taught French in East Lancashire before moving on to other projects, including establishing an early website for French teachers (The Really Useful French Site), working with Digitalbrain, writing the Attitudes course for A-level and authoring the site dolanguages.com, formerly known by different names depending on the language. Steve also runs webinars on A-level literature and film, specialisng in how to produce effective essays...