Design of a process and genre oriented course to improve English writing skills at the English Language Center at the University of Cordoba

Abstract

This project was conducted in order to offer Intermediate level learners of the English Language Center at Universidad de Córdoba a writing component within the existing course in order to enhance their writing skills. This proposal is based on the results of a needs analysis carried out among students and instructors of the intermediate level of the English courses. The proposal consists of a genre oriented writing course which incorporated an applicable and effective writing process, while engaging students in realistic tasks. The design involves four units, from which lessons plans for 12 hours were developed and presented in detail. A piloting stage was completed and data was collected through observation, a checklist , a group discussion and an evaluation format. The data demonstrated that when written tasks are functional, learners’ writing can become a feasible communicative action. Learners also value the strategies that are taught when carrying out a meaningful writing process founded on pre-writing activities and the expansion of some knowledge of how some genres are structured. It was identified that at the moment learners reproduce an instance of the genre they are more aware of its linguistics construction and they realize there is a possibility to explore other genres by following a writing process.