CREATIVE WRITING AS LANGUAGE PRACTICE Rita Tonino A046 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction The writing skill in the EFL classroom Creative Writing in the language classroom: a general overview The problem of assessment An experiment in Creative Writing: my training practice experience Conclusions Bibliography RESEARCH QUESTIONS WHAT IS CREATIVE WRITING AND HOW CAN IT BE USED IN THE EFL CLASSROOM? WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CREATIVE WRITING IN THE LANGUAGE CLASSROOM? HOW CAN CREATIVE WRITING WORK? WHAT COMES FIRST, READING OR WRITING? DOES CREATIVE WRITING FOSTER THE MOTIVATION TO WRITE? WHAT IS CREATIVE WRITING AND HOW CAN IT BE USED IN THE EFL CLASSROOM? Why do we call it creative? what is creativity? creative thinking lateral intelligence What can we ask our students to write? no limits in genre limits in time and space the importance of variety WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CREATIVE WRITING IN THE LANGUAGE CLASSROOM? For language learners It helps students express their own ideas It involves playful but extensive work with language It enhances precision using idioms and vocabulary For literature students It provides alternative ways of discussing texts It leads to a more profound appreciation of texts It improves debating skills and critical thinking HOW CAN CREATIVE WRITING WORK? Starting up Writing draft writing peer correction homework feedback given as a suggestion for improvement Presenting and giving feedback warmup activities, exploring ideas together Building up useful language WHAT COMES FIRST, READING OR WRITING? Reading first When working on possible developements of the story/characters Writing first When producing a new text, to avoid emotional block DOES CREATIVE WRITING FOSTER THE MOTIVATION TO WRITE? CREATIVE WRITING IS A STUDENT-CENTERED ACTIVITY CREATIVE WRITING IS A MEANS OF ENHANCING SELF-EFFICACY MY TRAINING PRACTICE EXPERIENCE An experiment in creative writing carried out in a fourth form at “Liceo Scientifico Statale L. Magrini” in Gemona del Friuli (UD) THEORETICAL CONTRIBUTION SSIS SEMINARS OTHER SOURCES Ms. Cristiana Ziraldo “Didattica della Lettura e della Scrittura” Mr. Daniele Fedeli “Psicologia dell’apprendimento e della memoria” Mr. Roberto Anoè “Didattica Generale” The Common European Framework