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Unit 12 looks at the productive skills, speaking and writing, two skills used for communication. We learn about different speaking activities (controlled, guided, creative communication) as well as techniques to encourage interaction. A typical free/creative speaking activity lesson is outlined and guidlines for such activities are given. A shorter section on writing skills then follows. We see some of the differences that separate a written text from speaking which need to be taken into consideration when teaching a foreign language. Unit 12 finishes with the topic of games. It shows that games can be adapted to language teaching in order to provide a fun way for controlled and free practice activities. One of the things I realized while working on Unit 12 is that when planning a communicative activity for the students, the students must see the need or have the desire to communicate. The more the teacher is creative, the more the activities will suit their purpose. I learned that the integration of games into language teaching can be very useful since they are popular with all ages. I shall also remember that free speaking activities are more concerned with fluency than accuracy. So feedback given should focus on possible improvements rather than mistakes.
