Copia: Copying in ESL Writing
ESL students can develop writing and editing skills through the practice of the art of Copia or copying.
Jan 19, 2007
(Note: You may want to read my article Copying Lesson in ESL Writing 1 and check out the following link on the concept of Copia to put the following activity in perspective)
The first step in the process is for ESL teachers to choose a sentence with which to work in their ESL class. I recommend using a sentence that is practical on several levels; for example, a sentence that is practical to the exercise, encourages positive feelings, and serves an educational standard will work best.
Here's one: "I think you are very smart." (Personally, I write this sentence on the board and then make eye contact with each student while repeating the words again and again) The next step is to ask your ESL students to rewrite the sentence in three different ways without changing the original meaning of the sentence.
Many advanced ESL students will be very literal about the exercise and produce competent sentences like "You are very smart," "You are very smart, I think," or "Smart you are." However, it is this strict adherence to the 'guidelines' that limits many ESL students in the development of new vocabulary and sentence patterns.
On the other hand, there will be students from all levels who acquire a grin on their face and keep their sentences secret from their classmates. These students often have sentences such as "I think you are intelligent," which carries the same meaning as the original, or "I believe you are smart," with think and believe intimating the same idea yet still different, thereby satisfying the aim of the assignment.
Once clued in to the idea that they can change both vocabulary and sentence patterns, the concept of "revising" takes on a whole new meaning, and I encourage ESL teachers to have their students write as many as twenty-five sentences (copying) in relation to the original. Through this process many questions about grammar and sentence structure will arise, but rather than the starting point for discussion being a chapter in a textbook, the conversation will come from each student's own experience and desire to make their ideas clear - an excellent outcome indeed!
Please feel free to email me about this lesson. I can go into greater depth about this exercise and even give you some additional suggestions for homework assignments and other in-class work. And remember to join my blog and share your thoughts with other curious ESL teachers.
