Functional English - writing

Students fill in the blanks using the words given, and then they can use them in their own sentences. Very common words that I notice my students have trouble with.

These resources were created to support learners in developing knowledge of spelling rules.

Handout 1 can be used to support learners who struggle with spelling words with an interior /ks/ sound, such as access and excess.

Handout 2 can be used to support learners who struggle with spelling words that start with PER and PRE.

I wrote this E3 writing task to supplement the E1/2 excellent worksheet by Carrie Bray (see below).
Plan, draft and proof read an email invitation to a friend.

A recap exercise where Functional English learners match the correct aspects of formal letter writing together and lay them out in letter format.

This could be printed out and laminated but I usually give my students a printout of the first pages and they cut out the text boxes and arrange them appropriately. I have included some red herrings such as incorrect text alignment and unsuitable salutations and closures.

I have included my suggestion of the correct layout on the third page.

Writing, discussion and research prompts particularly useful for sport students at all levels. Inspired by Carrie Bray’s “Giving beauty/hair advice” resource (see below).

You could cut out scenarios and use them to start a discussion, which could lead into individual or paired research and written responses. I’ve also used them to prompt email and letter writing with templates / frames for lower level learners.

A classic anonymous poem that has the correct spelling but the wrong words.

Read the poem aloud to your students before they have sight of it. Then give them page 1 of the work sheet.

Seven proof reading exercises that can be used as warm ups or as a main teaching focus. Each text includes spelling, grammar and punctuation errors. Two of the exercises also include paragraphing practice.

This is used to practise writing sentences in a format that is similar to those used for E2 Functional Skills writing assessments.
It includes a checklist for sentences and a reminder to use conjuntions. I use it after teaching the basics of sentences and conjunctions in order to give an opportunity to practise for the writing assessment. Three different tasks (note, email, complaint) plus a blank for your own task ideas.

A set of cards including birthday, get well, good luck and new baby aimed at E1/ E2 learners. Print them off and fold in half as practise for writing short messages. It may help to elicit suitable phrases from students and discuss suitable layout for their text inside the card.

I also recommend bringing in some sample envelopes to help learners recognise how to lay out a name and address.

Ideal for Entry Functional English writing.

A PPT about imperatives. Students identify imperatives and the language / layout of instructions, then have a go at writing their own.

Editor’s note
For sample instruction texts please to use with this PPT please see Carrie’s “Lasagne instructions” ,“Glass bead steriliser instructions” or “Pancake imperatives” below.