ABSOLUT ENGLISH
WRITING ACROSS CURRICULUM (WAC)
Susan and Stephen Tchudi write in their book, The English Language Arts Handbook, that �glanguage across the curriculum improves learning across the curriculum (233).�h I agree with it, and I would like to teach writing across the curriculum for sure in my classroom. They also mention that �ga good language curriculum can begin with engagement and inquiry through words; progress to meta-cognition and awareness of language as a medium; and for the sake of school, student, and society, polish up the fine points of dialect and usage as a tertiary, but by no means trivial, concern (232)�h in the same book. Here are some example lessons of writing across the curriculum I would like to use in my classroom.
How I bring other subjects in English:
I would like my students to read an autobiography of famous people they choose. The famous people can be from any fields such as history, math, science, physical education, art, music, and business. Examples of the people can vary from Adolf Hitler to Michael Jordan or a hip-hop star to a business owner. The purpose of this assignment is for students to see another person�fs life and to get some kind of impact on their lives. They will be keeping a personal journal during reading. They can see themselves better from learning about someone else, and this assignment will hopefully help them to form their personal identity.
How I approach different subject classrooms to convince them to write in their classrooms:
I would share the quote that Susan and Stephen Tchudi wrote in their book introduced before. They wrote that �glanguage already is in every classroom in the world, whether that classroom is presently concerned with numbers, dates, or science and technology (233).�h I think it is very true, and this whole WAC introduction in a school should start from the English teachers. English teachers should be flexible in what they are teaching. All other subject teachers can be considered as English teachers too as long as they communicate and teach in English language. I would also like to give different classrooms some example lessons based on WAC. Now, here are my example lessons for my minor subjects, social studies (geography) and foreign language (Chinese).
Social Studies:
In order to learn the history of the U.S. or world, students should learn their own personal history. I like an activity in social studies area that Susan and Stephen introduced in their book. It is called �gResearch of Family Tree,�h and students will be interviewing relatives and grandparents as well as analyzing their family document for the project. This activity can actually bring a family together, and the audience for the project can be themselves and their families. It gives students a chance to research, write, and read, and this is why I consider this as a WAC activity.
Foreign Language:
As Susan and Stephen Tchudi write in their book introduced before, �gforeign language study deepens the understanding and appreciation of language in general and helps students understand linguistic and cultural differences (238).�h I like an activity in foreign language area that they introduced in the book. It is to write about students�f customs, life, and culture in their home country in English (or the target language). They can produce a small book about them individually (or in groups). The audience can be foreign students who are new to the school or even students in foreign countries. For example, for students learning Japanese language, the audience can be students who are close to their ages in Japan learning English. This activity gives students a chance to think about their own culture by comparing it to the target culture and to learn how to introduce their culture effectively and successfully to someone who doesn�ft know it at all.
Back to Table of Contents.
Back to Main Page.
Absolut English: Writing Across Curriculum - WAC (11/17/01)