1 post tagged “writing english”
How can we learn to write English better? The following is a message from an English teacher on the TESL-L Listserve, a community of over 20,000 English teachers on the Internet. "I'm appalled that anyone would believe that giving students books would help them learn how to write an essay. Learning (and teaching) a second language is MUCH more complicated than encouraging students to read." and " I am sooooooooooooooo tired of these simple "just give them books" solutions."
My answer to this was as follows.
Different people learn in different ways, although there are certain universaI principles. The power of reading is one of them.
I have learned many languages, mostly by reading and listening. I would not go to a class to learn how to write better in any language. I would read more, and I would listen more. I would choose content with the style and use of words that I want to learn from. I would notice words and phrases and save them for review. I would consult articles on the Internet, or books which explain the style that is most appreciated for the language I am learning and the kind of writing that I need to do. These materials abound, especially for English writing. I would do it all on my own. Reading would be my most important activity and where I would spend most of my time.
I fully recognize that a majority of learners may take a different approach. But I believe that nobody can improve their writing without spending most of their time reading. The challenge for the teacher is to find ways to encourage, facilitate or stimulate their students' reading. Providing advice and feedback may be necessary for a majority of students ( I agree that I may be an exception), but the reading is the most important activity. This is based on my experience as a learner and as a teacher.
