娘が８歳３〜４ヶ月の頃に書いたエッセイをご紹介しますね。
■TOPIC
In many Japanese universities, students have to take gym classes. Do you think gym classes are important for university students?
■娘が書いたエッセイ
Yes, I think gym classes are important for university students. First, because it is healthy for them. If the students didn't have gym class they can get very bad colds. No one likes bad colds. Second, because maybe some runners or gymnastic people that goes to the Olympics could have gotten so fast because they did gym classes from pre-school to university. Maybe some didn't even dream of him or herself becoming a runner. For these reasons, I think university students in Japan should have gym classes.
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■TOPIC
Today, in some office buildings, smoking is not allowed at all. Do you think the number of such buildings will increase in the future?
■娘が書いたエッセイ
I think more office buildings will not allow smoking in the future. There are two reasons I think so. First, because smoking is not good for your health. It could damage your lungs. It is also bad for the people around you. They could smell the smoke and it could damage their lungs too. That is double bad. Second, it is also bad for the earth too. In the future earth could become a smokey and grayish planet. People could all die and no planet will have life. In conclusion, I think it is very bad to smoke.
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８歳３〜４ヶ月の頃は、こんな感じの娘らしいエッセイを書いていました。
オリンピック行けちゃうかも〜？ 地球がグレーの惑星に？？なんて表現は、
採点する人によっては「内容が弱い」「結論と本文が合致しない」などと評価される場合もあると思います。
もう少し説得力のある文章が書けるように練習した方がいいのかな？とも思いましたが、
娘のプライベートレッスンの先生から
「娘さんの今の自由な文章を大切にした方がいいと思います。これでも In conclusion などは少し大人びた表現だなと感じるし、あまりルールをがっちり固めて書く練習をしすぎると逆に想像力が乏しくなるなどの弊害が出てくるのでは？地球がグレーの惑星になっちゃう！なんて意見は、そうかもしれないね！！と褒めてあげていいと思いますよ！英検などでは減点対象になる場合もありますが、そのために英語を続けているわけではないのですから。」
と言っていただけたので、
まだ小学３年生だし、自由でいいか〜と思い、好きにさせていました。
娘の場合は日本語でもそこまで高度な文章を書いていませんでしたしね。
他にもこんなトピックでも書いていました。
■TOPIC
The cafeteria is starting to serve ice cream as a dessert but only one flavor will be offered. Write a letter to the principal explaining what your choice would be and why?
■娘の書いたエッセイ
Dear Principal,
I think the ice cream flavor in the cafeteria should be chocolate. Here are some reasons. First everyone likes chocolate. Right? Second, in chocolate there is cacao so it is good for your body. Think about it. I bet you loved chocolate too when you were a kid.
From ♡♡
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■TOPIC
Should students be permitted to have their cell phones with them during class?
■娘の書いたエッセイ
No. I have two reasons for this. The first one is, they might play with them. They could play games, text friends, and read books with them. They could do mostly anything with them. The second one is, it could make noises with them such as phone rings. It will be rude for other students and the teachers if they do that. If I become a teacher, I would not let students have there phones with them. Thanks!
↑上記のエッセイの「Thanks」はさすがにカジュアルすぎるし、they/themが多すぎて何を言いたいのか伝わりにくい。
ということで、もう一度同じトピックで、今度は Yes の意見で書き直したものがこちら↓
■娘の書いたエッセイ（書き直し）
Yes, students should be permitted to have their cell phones with them during class. I have two reasons to support this. First, if the students keep their phones in their bags and put the phones in manner mode, they won't bother anyone. Second, I don't think the student's mom make their children take the phones so the children could use them in school. I think the parents want their children to use the phones after school when they go to piano lessons. In conclusion, I believe that students chould be able to have their cell phones with them during class.
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ちょっと回りくどい言い方もありますが、このころは小学３年生になったばかりの時期ですし、このくらいのエッセイで十分かなぁ、、、と。
８歳になると、ライティングは１００文字程度であれば５〜１０分で書き上げることができるようになっていました。
ライティングで大切なのは「何を書きたいのか」がさっと頭に浮かぶこと。
それには、日本語でも良いので日々の会話や、本などからのインプットが重要になってくるのではないかな、と思いました。