Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with writing and education

Teaching English, reading and writing to a 15 yr old street kid who's never been to school.

ferdinandcc — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:42:57 -0800

Do you have any advice for teaching English comprehension, as well as reading and writing, to a fifteen year old Filipino street kid who's never been to school a day in his life? I run a nonprofit in the Philippines, and a 15 year old street kid has sort of adopted me. His mom is incarcerated for life, and his stepdad abandoned him, so he'd been sleeping alone on the streets outside a fast food restaurant. He's never been to school, and doesn't know how to read or write (although he knew how to spell his first name and I've taught him how to spell his last name). I've been pretty impressed, however, with how quickly he learns things (and it's astonishing to see how well he's basically parented himself).

The problem with most ESL learning tools I've found is that they either assume you know your alphabet and can sound out words, or they assume you're a baby.

Right now, I can't afford Rosetta Stone, but I've used Rosetta Stone in the past to help myself learn Tagalog, so I sort of just started recreating the basic flashcard style concept so I can work with him online, over the cam while I'm in the states, and my assistant helps him in the Philippines.

I've also been reading books to him like The Cat in the Hat, One Fish Two Fish… etc., but he'd much rather watch older kids' cartoons like Dragonball Z than childish books like these. I also have many age levels of the Kumon books on ESL, but again, the ones at his education level are mostly for kindergartners.

Can you recommend any good activities, books, DVDs, web sites, online videos, games, anything that teaches reading and writing in a way that doesn't patronize an older child?

I think I'm doing pretty good at teaching him (and he's doing amazingly well at learning), but I know there's room for improvement and I've always gotten amazing results from asking questions here. Toss me some of your most creative ideas. Or some of your most obvious ideas. Sometimes it's the obvious ones that most elude me.

Short passages of particularly strong or weak nonfiction prose?

cymru_j — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 08:04:34 -0800

In search of short passages of especially strong or weak nonfiction prose! I’m hoping to build a composition class around short examples of effective and in effective writing. I'm thinking of passages of about 1-6 sentences.

We'll look at excerpted passages as a class and analyze what makes them more or less effective. Maybe we'll even try rewriting them in various ways to note the effect.

Passages from well-loved (or well-hated) prose stylists are very welcome, but bonus points for writing whose quality seems surprising or out of context, i.e. poor writing where one might expect strong (from a respected magazine, author, columnist) or good prose that pops up in off-beat venues (blogs, advertising copy, tabloids, etc.).

Any comments on why said prose is effective or ineffective are also welcome.

Thanks very much, guys!

Professional Writing Program

jschu — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 08:45:43 -0800

Can you recommend a great professional writing certificate program? I am looking for a post-graduate professional writing certificate program that will help qualify me as a technical writer or copy editor. Anywhere in the US or Canada is fine, and I would prefer to study somewhere that has a bit of prestige. I'm not interested in online programs.

How would you approach this college admissions essay prompt?

caroljean63 — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:26:05 -0800

How would you approach this college admissions essay prompt? "Discuss anything you wish you understood better than you do now. " Background: At this point in his life my son has wide ranging interests: politics, American history, economics, web design and web hosting/servers.

He has worked on several political campaigns and has won a couple awards/honors in web design competitions.

His biggest strength is leadership. He's worked as a project leader on several successful projects, team captain of most of his sports teams, etc.

Biggest weakness: He's extremely concise when writing and thinks this prompt is really not very open ended. From his POV, if he wanted to "understand something better than he does now," he would just do it! He wouldn't spend 3 days writing an essay about it, he'd google it, listen to a podcast, or read a book about it.

To a 17-year-old homeschooled kid who has grown up in the age of information at his fingertips, a question like that is foreign to his vocabulary. Still, this essay has a due date looming...

How to write a scientific literature review?

doctor.dan — Sat, 16 May 2009 04:18:25 -0800

I'm at that point in my PhD where my experiment is (almost) up and running, so I have more free time to do other stuff. I've decided that writing a general introduction to my thesis will be less beneficial than trying to get a review article published. How do I go about writing a review article, from the perspective of an unpublished graduate student? I'll be getting help from my advisers, both of whom are well respected in their individual fields. I'm looking at a number of different areas and trying to tie them together, which hasn't been done in any previous review (that should buy me enough originality, right?). I've done the obligatory Google search, but all the advice out on the intertubes is pretty generic, and usually aimed at small reviews instead of reviews aimed at publication.

I have more articles on the topics than I need, I just need to start writing something now. What do you guys do to streamline writing reviews (not just scientific, any kind)? Any tips on reducing the pain and increasing the fun? How do I go about planning this thing? Tips for writing it without drowning in information?

Examples of teaching drawing or writing in Second Life?

zainsubani — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:46:37 -0800

I will shortly be introducing a friend of mine to Second Life. She's an academic, and will be most interested in locations in SL that are related to the teaching of art (especially drawing and cartooning) and the teaching of writing. I would be most grateful for any suggestions anyone might have of locations we could visit.

Stories 'bout learnin

Saxon Kane — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 15:42:32 -0800

I'm looking for short stories/poems/creative non-fiction and the like about school, schooling, education, and/or learning to write/self-expression. Should be suitable for college freshpersons.

Nix the degree, get the education

puckish — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 06:30:27 -0800

Free school options in New York? After a series of interesting but often frustrating conversations with friends and recent grads saddled with student loans, I'm curious to know more about what options, if any, exist in New York City for those who want to keep on with higher education but can't afford it. I know most universities (including mine) often do active community outreach (free lectures, public forums and so forth), but I'm curious as to whether similar programs exist, if any, among community and advocacy organizations in the city. Analogous to something like Free Geek in Portland, but with a literary or humanistic bent, or the Columbia free school movement (which, as far as I can tell, doesn't exist anymore?). Stuff like that.

The kinds of groups I'm thinking of would probably do things like: free research workspace, seminar series, DIY workshops and reading groups, paired with some type of community-based literacy activism. Basically the model for the free school movement, but targeted toward adults.

Do these programs exist? I'm thinking mostly of literature / humanities groups, but it need not be field-specific.

Warmup activities for young writers

lunalaguna — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 16:20:35 -0800

Looking for interesting, not cheesy, ideas to get 8th-10th graders warmed up for an afternoon of writing and discussion. I'll be leading some warm-up activities at a writing camp next week for 13-16 year-olds. I'm looking for ideas for some simple, quick activities (< 15 minutes) that'll get everyone up and interacting with each other. Freewriting and get-to-know-you type exercises are already planned, so something physical, not necessarily writing related, would be best.

Where Can I Find Self-Reflective Profiles?

themadjuggler — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:27:42 -0800

Where can I find examples of profile-writing that say as much about the profiler as the profilee? This year I will be leading a publication project with my ninth-grade English language arts classes in which they profile members of their community (local artists, musicians, shopkeepers, civil workers, etc.). Hopefully, my students will be able to look at these people's accomplishments/struggles and think about who they want to be in the future and how they will contribute to the community themselves. I want them to strike a balance between writing about their interviewees and writing about themselves, but I can't think of any good works of this genre to use as model texts.

My students have a wide range of academic abilities including some with special needs. There is a significant proportion of English language learners, as the school is in a largely Hispanic neighborhood of Brooklyn. At the very least, we will look at Sandra Cisneros's vignettes in The House on Mango Street, and perhaps Ernesto Quiñonez's Bodega Dreams.

What are your best suggestions for this group of young writers?

Looking for a resource to have a graduate admissions statement of intent read and critiqued please.

iamkimiam — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:11:26 -0800

I am applying to grad school. The deadline is approaching. Where can I go to get my letter of intent (personal statement) read and critiqued? I am seeking some feedback on what I've written. Is there a resource out there for this? Preferably at minimal cost, with a very quick turnaround, and knowledge about the system and what the admissions professionals are looking for.

Other info: I'm applying to SF State for the Masters Program in Linguistics. Any specific info or resources about this program and/or graduate studies is also very helpful to me!

What further education do I need to be taken seriously as I re-enter the workforce?

misha — Sat, 19 May 2007 12:56:26 -0800

I've been out of work for a number of years, by choice, staying at home to raise my kids. I have a Bachelor's in Education with a minor in English from back in 19mumblemumbleyear, and even if it were up-to-date, my life has taken a different turn, and I don't feel that teaching is for me any more. With this kind of background, if I don't teach, I am pretty much, as one of my English teachers once put it, an "educated un-employable." What further education do I need to be taken seriously as I re-enter the workforce? I have become proficient with both Windows and Mac applications, not just the wimpy Office suite stuff, but how to illustrate with Photoshop, a little bit of HTML, CSS style sheets and coding, etc. I pick things up quickly and I am constantly trying to learn more. This year, I started blogging and have enjoyed it immensely, and over the last few years I have written short stories and columns that have been published, a couple nationally. I have been looking at my particular skill sets, and feel that writing in some capacity is both my passion and my most marketable skill as I try to re-enter the workforce. I have considered technical writing or copy-writing as a possible career path for me. I recognize that I need to work on making myself more employable. What coursework should I pursue to prepare me for these positions? Should I go for a graduate degree, and if I do, which field would be most relevant? Are there other choices involving writing that I am missing?

How did the collapse of the Western Roman Empire affect the quality of Latin writing?

jason's_planet — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 07:40:39 -0800

How did the Latin language degenerate during the collapse of the Western Roman Empire? Precise, elegant writing is the product of more than just individual talent and that individual's determination to make the most of his talent. It depends on the existence of an educational system and related institutions (libraries, publishers, etc.) which in turn depend on the larger society. When that society begins to collapse, the struggle for physical survival takes priority over established cultural standards.

When the Roman Empire collapsed in the West, what happened to those cultural standards? How did Latin prose change from, say, the year 300 to the year 600? Did the quality of the writing decline? If so, how? Can any of you recommend any books on this topic?

Many thanks in advance.

What is your favorite highlighter?

coolhappysteve — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 09:14:56 -0800

The best commonly-available highlighter? Highlighters have such a proclivity for crappiness; what's your favorite that I can pick up at the local stationer?

Also, how has this question never been asked - so many pen threads, no highlighter-love!

826Indonesia?

mdonley — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 20:34:25 -0800

What activities can I suggest during a workshop on designing awesome creative writing assignments for overworked ESL teachers to use in class? (In Indonesia?) (With learners across many levels?) (For little/no money?) (Without Powerpoint?) Backstory: we work with a pretty prescriptive, grammar-focused, exam-based curriculum. "Writing" is worth just 10% of a student's mark, and I'd like to make that 10% something they look forward to doing well, not something they have to somehow scramble to achieve. Creative writing - really, anything fictional at all - is currently not on the agenda; the Powers That Be have decided that it's more important for students to write about the, um, more boring aspects of reality. We all want to change this.

The goal of this workshop, then, is to help teachers widen students' literary experience into the realms of what they actually enjoy reading about in the comic books or watching on the soap operas so popular here - drama, romance, fantasy, science fiction: writing from the point of view of a shark, or a sandwich, or a jealous lover, or an alien queen.

Our students range from absolute beginners to "upper-intermediate"/"advanced" levels, but few of our students are older than, say, 25, and many are also enrolled full-time in universities and high schools, and many are enrolled by their parents because their English scores at school aren't so great, so we don't have the most enthusiastic groups of students sometimes, especially among teens.

We don't have internet access for students in any meaningful way at school, but nearly all of our students have access to the internet at home or in internet cafes.

The workshop will last about an hour, so we won't have much time.

Any ideas about making this workshop effective? I'm looking for both effective workshop strategies, and ideas relevant to the topic: creative writing in an ESL context.

Thanks!

Writing Nonfiction and Children's Literature: Do you know of any good literature ABOUT these subjects?

0bvious — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 11:11:50 -0800

I am looking for well regarded books/scholarly papers about writing. Most specifically in the areas of Nonfiction (the essay style of article writing) and Children's Fiction (for a young adult audience). Any tips? Go as far and broad as you can. I'll be off to the British library tomorrow, so the sky is the limit. I am currently undertaking a Masters Degree in Creative and Professional Writing.

Having written an essay on 'The Problem of Dogma and the Power of Myth', I would now like to assess my article/essay style against writing theory.

As part of my course, I have also written an excerpt from a Young Adult Novel, and would dearly like to read up on some of the literature surrounding the genre.

Thanks in advance...

Hand writing and note-taking

Knigel — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 21:36:09 -0800

I am an ESL teacher, and I have several types of classes; however, I have one problem, my handwriting looks as if I were a five year old scribbling with a crayon. So I am curious if anyone might have any suggestions on getting better at handwriting and printing for someone who doesn't have time to go to a course. Also, a second related question, are there any ideas for making conversation corrections? When my students are speaking, I write down various things that they are saying, and make various corrections, or simply offer alternatives, or local dialect. What are some of the most effective and useful ways to do this? If there are any people who have spent any time learning other languages, what ahs helped you most? Thank you all in advance.

What essays for freshman composition?

wheat — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 12:37:04 -0800

Pimp my freshman composition class: what essays would you put on the syllabus? The fall semester is rolling around again. Our college uses one of those custom published text books, for our first-semester freshman composition class. I've never been very happy with the selections (and the lack of support material). There are a few favorites which will surely make the list, but I'm interested in your opinions about other essays, classic and contemporary. The emphasis of the class is essay writing and using secondary sources. The reading focus is non-fiction. These are junior college kids, if that matters to you.

Here are some things I've used in the past and will probably use again: MLK, Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail," Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant," Lars Eighner's "On Dumpster Diving," Joan Didion's "On Morality," and Olaudah Equiano's "Interesting Narrative."

Pieces dealing with political/ethical quandaries are okay, but I don't want to turn it into a political science class. I also would like to convey that political/ethical opinions come in lots of flavors--not just the polarized versions presented on the cable new shows.

What should I use for a blog in my classroom, and why?

fionab — Wed, 31 Aug 2005 15:53:47 -0800

Blogging in the classroom. I've decided to set-up a blog for my students this semester. This will be the place for their response papers, writing exercises and a few other tidbits. It needs to have access for 5-10 members, a very easy set-up, free-to-near-free pricing (although I would pay or find the dollars to fund if it was warranted), and very clear posting/linking instructions for the students. Advice on selecting a blogging system needed. What should I use?
- Blogger has a free version, with "team blog" as an option, and it looks like a Microsoft Word plug-in or something. This looks pretty attractive. What is the downside of Blogger? Privacy? Ads? The searchbar? Support?

- Moveable Type has educational pricing at $40 for my needs, but is it rather difficult to install, customize, set-up, etc.? I don't know anything beyond very basic HTML; I'm pretty techno-savvy [as in, I can do lots of stuff on computers and other gadgets but no programming] so I could follow instructions, but as the semester has already started, I don't want to put oodles of time into this. Is there a way to have it ready-to-go for me instead?

- I use TypePad for my (currently neglected) blog, so I'm familiar with their process and keys, but don't see how it would work for our class right now. Could it? With 5+ members?

- What about Drupal?

- What else should I consider? I found this old thread, but I know that the last year-and-a-half has been busy in the blogging industry and educational blogging. What do I need to know about blogging with my class? Dangers? Advice? Good grades for all who respond!

Help a new writing tutor.

Doug — Thu, 14 Apr 2005 12:00:31 -0800

Any advice for a new writing tutor?

How do I separate my pharmacy school application from everyone else's?

jmd82 — Wed, 14 Jan 2004 08:40:14 -0800

This month, I'm applying to Pharmacy school at UGA. The one "essay" goes: "In the space provided below, please provide a personal statement as to what skills, talents, or abilities you posses that will be helpful to you in our program."
Not looking for anyone to write my mini-essay, but anyone in the field of Pharmacy or admissions got any suggestions as to anything I could put on there to seperate my application from everyone else, or just pointers as to what kind of key words/phrases admissions poeple might be looking for?