The article treats the aspect of the development of writing competence via dictations. A dictation is considered, unjustly, a useless task, as of the fact that, before the curricula reforms, it was used as a controlling type of evaluation. The place of dictations in the formative process is a powerful one. The base idea states that a dictation is an important formative exercise. Using various and entertaining methods, the dictation could evolve from a disappointing exercise to an attractive activity for pupils.