LETTER tram the EDITCR
T
his issueof New Standpoints is dedicated to imagination.We'lI start by dialling "M" for mur- der with American mystery fiction in literature, films and those forensic- science shows that are so popular on TV nowadays.
Imagination, freedom and the pursuit of liberty... The year 2007 marks 50 years sinGe the publication of Jack Kerouac's classic, On the Road. An opportunity to revis!t the Beatnik era and make a detour among hobos, Harleys and the culture of the open road.
Our Gaver photo combines bath the above theme, and the next one: Britishness. As the identity Gard is likely to be introduced in the UK, some English peo- ple worry about the possible loss of individual free- dom and many wonder what English or British identi- ty is ail about; therefore, it became relevant to deal with Britishness, Britannia and British icons.
Imagination is a priority for pupils, too. This issue is dedicated to writing, from creative writing at the intermediate level (inspired by a prize-winning crime- fiction wrlter's experience) and the primary school level, where it needs to be introduced with Gare; to learning to take organized notes after oral activities;
to state-of-the art writing on interactive whiteboards.
Does the emphasis on writing seem paradoxical when the introduction of the CEFR has put so much focus on developing oral ski Ils? It isn't really, as this issue deIves into new forms of writing... a skill with a status that needs clarification. We seldom train pupils to write in class, yet they are given written tests most of the time, although oral assessment has been gaining ground. Writing is no longer the only way to assess pupils' language level, while it is a skill that Gan be developed in its own right in class.
And finally a most serious matter: a short history
of d,Uo, '0 Ame,',,- foc th" Feb'"'~~r'
