[MUSIC] Welcome back to Teach English Now! In our last module, you watched as our inexperienced teacher, or witch, learned how to help her students make it through the writing process. And you saw Hansel and Gretel, our students, go from not understanding how to write about their dream house to creating a dream house they could both be proud of. The focus of that module was to help you understand that writing is a process and how important it is to break up your writing assignments into parts or steps so that students don't feel overwhelmed. We mentioned several times that we would talk about specific strategies for each part of the writing process, and that is the focus of this module. You will learn specific strategies you can use in the pre-writing, writing, and post-writing phases. Of course, there are many more strategies than we can include in this course. So we hope that, as you learn about these specific strategies, you will also learn how to learn about strategies. And that you will look for additional strategies you can use to help your students become successful writers. All right, let the magic begin. How can I teach people about writing strategies? For most people, writing just seems to happen like magic. I suppose it is like magic when a student finally produces a wonderful piece of writing. But how to help teachers get their students to that point? They need to understand the process, of course, and they need to help students express their own thoughts and ideas through writing. Definitely. But there's so much [SOUND], so much more than that, so much more. [MUSIC] >> It's no use. I just can't think about what to write. How am I even supposed to write about my future husband if I haven't met him yet? And how am I supposed to meet the matchmaker next week if I haven't finished the required writing assignment? Ugh, I'm doomed! What's this? Is this what I think it is? [NOISE] Let's find out. [SOUND] >> Who has summoned me? No, really. I want to think them for getting me out of that lamp. Mm, can't imagine how cramped it is in there. Hello down there. You must be the one who beckoned me. I am at your service. >> [LAUGH] [APPLAUSE] Wonderful! This is exactly what I needed. I get three wishes, right? Okay, for my first wish, I wish that I had the best paper ever written about my future husband. >> Hold on a minute! I can't just can't give you a well-written paper. There are a few rules and regulations that govern your wishes. Well-written papers don't just appear out of thin air, they take hard work. >> Well, what's the point? I've been trying to write this paper all week and I'm on a flying carpet to nowhere. It's due next week and I don't even have one word written. What am I going to do? What good are three wishes if I can't even get a well-written paper out of the deal? >> Wow, really laying on the melodrama? Let's not get accused of overacting any more than absolutely necessary, okay? That's usually my job. Now, I didn't say it was impossible, I just said it takes hard work. All you need is a good tutor. Now that is a wish I can grant. >> Really? Okay, okay I wish for the best writing tutor in the world to help me. >> Your wish [SOUND] is my command. Now, let's get started. >> Wait, you're my writing tutor? >> Hey, what can I say? I'm over 10,000 years old, for heavens sake. I know all there is to know about good writing. If you had asked for an average tutor, someone else might have shown up. But you did ask for the best. Now, let's begin with a brief review. First and foremost, good writing doesn't just happen all at once. Writing is a- >> Process, I know, [SOUND]. >> And has how many steps? >> Three steps. Pre-writing, writing, and post-writing. >> Exactly. Good job. So, on to step one. First, let's focus on the object and purpose of your writing. I think I heard you say it's about your future husband. Is that right? What a delicious topic. So, tell me about Dreamy McDreamy. >> You mean my husband? That's the problem. I haven't even met my future husband yet. So I don't know anything about him. This paper is supposed to help the matchmaker find me the right man so that I don't end up with someone with no teeth and bad breath and [NOISE] hairy toes. [NOISE] >> Doesn't like bad breath, hairy toes. Guess that eliminates me. Okay, excellent. You are already starting to think. And I see you are thinking in terms of one important characteristic, appearance. May I assume by your comment that you prefer good breath, a trim physique, and hairless toes? Let's see if we can break this down anymore. What do you want Sir Bunches of Teeth to look like? >> Look like? Well, let's see. Well, he should be handsome, of course. I really like guys with long, flowy hair. And it should be dark colored. Like black or dark brown. What else? He should be strong, but not too muscley. And he shouldn't have any facial hair. [SOUND] >> Not too muscly, doesn't have any hair on his face. Sort of a prepubescent Justin Bieber. >> What? >> Nothing. All good. I think I have a good idea of your hairless wonder of a man. Now, let's write those down [SOUND]. Now appearance can't be the only characteristic. How about, for example, his job? >> Well, he should have a job, that's for sure. And it should have a job that pays him well so we don't have to worry about money all the time >> And I want him to have a job that helps the community. So I guess he should be like a doctor, or maybe a teacher. >> Teacher, great choice, those men are undoubtedly the manliest. Let's add those to our list [SOUND]. Now I've got a series of questions and activities right here in my noggin. And I am certain we will breeze through this assignment in no time! I knew you had lots of ideas about your future husband. You just needed to spend some time with me to, abracadabra, unlock those magical ideas out of your own head. >> Genie! If you weren't so old and blue and creepy, you just might be the perfect catch yourself. >> Thank you. Master. [MUSIC]
