Improve your writing in English
I think writing is the most difficult thing to learn, and teach, in another language. Even in our first language writing well can be a big challenge! The main thing in learning to write well is practice. Are you surprised? (Probably not!) Think about how often you speak every day. Most people speak every morning, and every afternoon, and every evening. What about writing? Some people go several days without writing a single word! To improve our writing, the first thing to do is to write more. You can either write emails, start a blog (right here on EnglishClub.com - this is not an advertisement, just a good suggestion!), or keep a private journal. It doesn’t matter what you do at first, as long as you do a little every day.
If you want more specific help, I’ve put some ideas together on one page (http://www.teacherjoe.us/Write.html) which includes paragraph writing and how to write strong introductions and conclusions. Perhaps the most useful page for advanced writers is a collection of sample compositions with my comments. These are real compositions written by real students. I hope they will be helpful to you. As usual, your comments are welcome!
nafis Said,
November 12, 2008 @ 9:38 pm
Hi Dear teacher Joe,
I created a blog in Englishclub.com with the name of ” I can learn English like a native speaker”. I wrote something and I hope to keep writing other days.
Everyone welcomes and I am looking forward to seeing you and other students’ comments.
Regards,
Nafis Said,
November 20, 2008 @ 3:44 pm
Dear teacher Joe,
I have a question for you.
I read many websites and weblogs about how I can learn English better. So, I have a lot of information in my mind and the more I read, the more I become confused. Recently, I have read a blog which says it is better not to speak in English or not to write if we (students) make mistakes because the mind will learn incorrect structures and forgetting the incorrect structure is really hard and needs a lot of effort to forget them.
So, I was wondering how I can practice speaking and writing. I decided to write my memoirs or events that happen throughout a day as much as I can. I also decided to speak as much as I can beacuse I am very weak at it. If I do not write how I can improve my speaking or writing. Do you think it is right if I do not write or speak because I will make mistakes and my mind will learn incorrect structures?
I read in the website that we need input and we collect input through reading and listening. But, I will learn better if I have output, I mean, if I read about a subject and then write about what I read, I will learn English better because I use it. But, in the website it was written that do not write only if you are very very good at writing or speaking.
But, I read in other website that it is better to speak even though one is making mistakes, do not have fear about making mistakes. Speak as much as possible.
Which ones are realy true? and of course you encouraged us to write every day. There is no one to correct me and as a result, I have to correct myself. So, should not I write because there is no one to correct my grammar mistakes?
Would you please advise me in this issue I am awfully confused by different advices?
Regards,
Nafis
Dang Said,
January 4, 2009 @ 8:57 pm
Hello Joe, hello all,
I absolutely agree with the teacher that if we want our writting skill to be improved, then the best way is to practise as much as possible, at any time and anywhere. No matter when and where you are, you can write down anything that is happening to you or to the world around you. Day after day goes by and one day you will be surprised how well you can express your ideas, your thoughts, your wishes on paper.
If you succeed with the rule: The more you write the better you can write. Don´t forget to share your own experience in learning to write with friends around.
Thank you so much for very helpful posts.
Yours: Dang