Welcome to UNIT 19.4
PREVIOUSLY: In Unit 19.3, we discussed about the various ways of teaching the sub topic "Reading
and obtaining specific information" in Form Two.
IN THIS UNIT 19.4, we will cover the sub topic "Writing letters of application for jobs"
in Form Four.
TOPIC’S INFORMATION
Main Topic: WRITING APPLICATION
LETTERS
Sub Topic: Writing letters of
application for jobs
Periods per sub topic: 10
Class: Form Four
DESCRIPTION OF THE SUB TOPIC
When we want to ask or apply for a position in a certain office or
institution, we always send letters of application for jobs or particular
posts. The letters of application for jobs speak for the applicants. And thus,
because we are not there when our letters are read, we should write these letters
well. The students should thoroughly be equipped with the better letter writing
skills so that they prepare themselves for the life after school where they
will be required to write letters of application for jobs.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE LESSON
In this sub topic/lesson, the student should be able to write letters of
application for jobs.
- TEACHER’S PREPARATION STAGE
This stage is about the preparation of the teacher before
undertaking the lessons of the particular sub topic. These are all activities, procedures,
materials, teaching aids, and games prepared by the teacher for teaching a sub topic:
- Putting
heads together: Introducing
the topic/lesson properly. Organising how students will be able to get to know
what is the topic/lesson about. It is where teacher makes sure that students
are going to be in his/her train. It includes brainstorming and familiarisation
of the topic/lesson with the students.
This makes students stay together with the teacher. It
is at this stage students can understand what is going to be discussed in the particular
topic.
In this sub topic/lesson; the teacher will guide students to brainstorm on the
meaning of 'letter', 'letter of application/application letter' and 'letter of
application for jobs'. The teacher also can discuss with the students on the
reasons why people write letters and why people should write letters of
application for jobs.
Letter is....
Application
letter....
Letter of
application for job.....
People write various kinds of letters for various reasons.
For instance, friendly letters are written purposely for greeting each other.
Official letters are written to make various official communications between
offices, people and institutions. However, letters of application for jobs are
written in order to apply for posts in various offices and institutions.
- Preparation
of Materials. A teacher
has to decide on the teaching/learning materials he/she is going to use.
In this sub topic/lesson,
the teacher will use various sample letters to engage students in the process of writing
letters of application for jobs. In addition to these sample letters of
application for jobs, students are expected to write various letters of
application for jobs of their own.
- Target Practice. Show them/Guide them to the practice of the functions
of the sub topic. A teacher has to show or guide students to the target practice
of the grammatical functions of the sub topic.
In this sub topic/lesson, the teacher showcases students the proper grammatical patterns to use
when they write letters of application for jobs. These grammatical patterns and
expressions should be thoroughly learnt by students. Some of these grammatical
patterns are:
Refer to....
Refer to my letter dated....
I am writing to apply for....
Dear Sir/Madam,
I have attached my CV and academic certificates.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours Sincerely
- Context-Based
Practice. A teacher leads students
to the discussion on how the target grammatical functions practised earlier
can be applied or integrated into the contexts and situations. The students
are guided by the teacher to apply the learnt skills in relevant contexts and
situations like school and library.
In this sub topic/lesson,
the teacher will discuss with students on letter
writing skills and encourage them to write various letters of application for
jobs in the school context. For
example, the teacher may ask students to write letters of application for jobs
as they write to apply for various posts in Students' Government. This is the
real situation or context students should practice on.
- Vocabulary
Building Practice. At this
time, teacher discusses with the students on the vocabularies and phrases to
apply in the already mentioned contexts and situations.
In this sub topic/lesson: The most commonly applied vocabularies are: sincerely,
faithfully, refer, Re, advertisement.
- TEACHING AND LEARNING PROCEDURES, ACTIVITIES AND GAMES
Guide the students to the full sub topic/lesson procedures,
activities and games for better understanding of the sub topic by following these
activities:
ACTIVITY ONE: Brainstorming. The teacher has to brainstorm with the students on the
sub topic/lesson's aspects through oral questions with answers, pair works, and
group discussions of all important concepts to get students on track.
In this
activity, the teacher will guide students to brainstorm on
letters of application for jobs, mentioning jobs they would like to apply for
and how letters of application for jobs differ from other letters.
By definition, letters of application for jobs or application
letters are the official letters that are written for the purpose of requesting
for a post on a particular company or institution.
The jobs that people may write letters to apply for are
so many. Some of them are:
-Manager
-Director
-Consultant
-Teacher
-Doctor
-Guard
and many more.
Letters of application for jobs are not like other
letters. Although they share some common features with other letters, letters
of application for jobs have other distinctive features:
- Sender's address.
- Date.
- Receiver's address
- Salutation.
- Heading.
- Body of the letter.
- Complimentary sentence.
- Closure.
- Signature.
- Full name.
Also see, Letters
to the editor
ACTIVITY TWO: Teacher's
Demonstration. The teacher applies his/models
or examples so as to bring the topic/lesson and the students into the real or common
sense of the topic/lesson.
In this
activity, the teacher has to provide students with sample
letters to study. These sample letters will show students how the letters of application
for jobs are written and organized. The following is one of the samples of
letters of application for jobs.
Teacher's Model
AN OFFICIAL LETTER TO THE NATIONAL PARKS MANAGER
KAREMA VILLAGE,
P.O.Box 355,
MPANDA.
4TH NOVEMBER, 2017.
GENERAL MANAGER,
TANZANIA NATIONAL PARKS,
P.O.Box 122,
DAR ES SALAAM.
Dear Sir/ Madam.
RE: APPLICATION FOR THE JOB AS A NATIONAL PARK DRIVER.
Please refer to the heading above.
In the Daily News, Friday 15th October, 2017
it was advertised job for drivers and I would like to apply for the job.
I am Tanzanian aged thirty five; married and having one
child. I have three years’ experience with heavy commercial vehicles. I hold a driving
license class A, B, C, E, it is valid and stamped. I am of height 181 centimetres.
Previously, I was working with Masanja Transport Company as a driver and I was awarded
a certificate of good conduct in 2012. Currently, I am a Bus Driver for
Networking Bus Company.
I have attached a reference letter from the Manager of
Masanja Transport Company, my previous employer and my certificate of good conduct.
For my ability at work contact the Manager of Masanja Transport Company P.O.Box
211, Mpanda.
I look forward to the consideration of my application.
Yours faithfully
B. Fursa
BAHATI FURSA
ACTIVITY THREE: Students' Demonstration. The teacher guides students how they can apply a model
like that of a teacher. The skills demonstrated by the teacher should now be demonstrated/applied
by them. Here students need to be guided on how to use given expressions, structures,
vocabulary, and phrases or similar ones.
In this activity, the teacher has to guide students to work in pairs,
draft, revise, and edit a letter of application for jobs. These series of
activities have to be supervised closely by the teacher. The students should be
carefully monitored as they brainstorm on letter writing ideas, draft the first
rough drafts, revise their drafts, and edit their drafts for the submission.
Also see Stages of writing official letters in Parts
of Official Letters or General
Stages of Academic Writing
The teacher's role in this letter writing process should be to move from
one pair to another assisting them with choice of words, grammar, and writing
styles.
ACTIVITY FOUR: Taking/leading students to the real situations or contexts where they can apply what they have mastered.
Here speaking, reading or writing activities are involved.
ACTIVITY FIVE: Winding up the topic/lesson. Here teachers summarise the topic/lesson by emphasizing
the importance of the sub topic/lesson and suggesting other related aspects of the
sub topic/lesson.
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY: As a teacher, what other activity can be applied in this sub topic/lesson?
You can always drop your alternative activity or activities to this article so as
to improve teaching and learning of 'O'
Level English.
GRAMMAR & COMPOSITION PRACTICE:
Also check out Parts
of Official Letters
REFLECTION
Ask students how they think people communicated when there were no
phones like today. The students understand that phones are modern technologies
and their response will be that people were writing letters to each other. In
fact, our life is made successful with writing. We can't say other language skills
are not important, but they are always perfected by writing. For example,
writing letters of application for jobs is one of the important writing skills.
The students should be encouraged that writing letters is still an important
skill that everyone should have because it is widely applicable in the contemporary
societies.
ASSESSMENT
A teacher should design an evaluation for students by using appropriate assessment
tools like oral questions or assignments so that to see if the students are able
to write letters of application for jobs.
ASSESSMENTS
Assessment #01: Group Work.
Pick any English newspaper and allow all students to discuss which headline
has prompted them to write the letter of application for jobs.
Assessment #02: Pair Works
Pick any English newspaper or magazine and ask students to look for Job Vacancy.
Discuss with them about the relevance of the vacancy and ask them to write official
letter about the requirements of the vacancy.
Assessment #03: Individual Work.
Write an advertisement about recruiting workers of Rice Factory. Ask them
to write the official letter applying for Machine Operator post. They should write
to The Manager, Karema Rice Factory, P.O.Box 123, Mpanda. Sign your letter as
JADI KUSOMA.
Note 01: You can
give students more individual works, pair works, and group works to facilitate their
interaction and understanding of the sub topic or lesson. As English language teacher
you have to give students more works to do. Because language is meant to be largely
spoken and written, the teacher should rely on written exercises and notes. Instead
students have to learn English language by vigorously exercising individually, in
pairs, and in groups.
SUMMARY/CONCLUSION
Letter Writing is a productive skill. After learning all four language skills
during teaching and learning processes, finally the students will have to sit down
and write some letters especially letters that will help them get the jobs
after they finish schooling. This is the advantage of letter writing skills to
the students. They should be encouraged to learn more about writing better letters
that will give then various employment opportunities.
Note 02: These stages
explained above are not necessarily covered in a single lesson of single or double
period. Remember that this is the guide for teaching the whole sub topic which has
periods ranging from 6 to 20. So, the teacher's task is to divide these stages according
to the total number of periods for a particular sub topic.
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION?
This article is about how to study and teach "Writing
letters of application for jobs" in Form Four. As a student or teacher,
what is your opinion on how to study and teach this sub topic/lesson?
Your opinion is worth and I believe that it can make these
materials better for our own consumption.
You are Welcome!
You
can also check the following useful links for each class below:
FORME
ONE
FORM
THREE
FORM
FOUR
Other
Related Useful Links:
Form Four National Examination (NECTA) Sections
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related topics:
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Four