TESL 0130: Unit 2 Adapting a Text Blog Post


This blog post discusses how the following text could be adapted for different situations, depending on the level and age of the students, and the type of English class that this activity is being used in. Click on this link to read the text:

https://universityofmanitoba.desire2learn.com/content/enforced3/272540-16743.201790/Content/Readings/Reading%20Skills%20Practice%20Foreign%20Exchange%20Emails.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=R2QiPzVF9vbU3DCxZNqAuVRuF&ou=272540

While this reading text was originally targeted towards teenage students, I feel that this could also be used with mature LINC 4 Level students. The language used in this reading text meets the targets for a LINC level 4 class (length of the text, the difficulty of the vocabulary and grammar all seem to align with what would be expected of a student at this level). To adapt this text to older students, I might change the context of the email exchange to being between a parent and their son. In this case, I’d get my students to read this and get them to imagine that they are talking to their son who is studying abroad in the UK. This way, the reading material will feel more relevant to their situation.


For students in an EAP (English Academic Preparation) setting, I would remove the informal vocabulary, and grammar structures, and replace them with more formal English. I may also change the context somewhat and possibly have the student writing the email to a professor as opposed to a good friend. 

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