The Writing Room

Of the four skills in language learning, writing is probably the most difficult. Good writing, in any language, is the product of hard work. If you are learning to write in a foreign language, you will have even more difficulties to overcome than in your native language. However, it is not impossible to overcome these difficulties, and it is the aim of John's ESL Community to help you overcome them and become a better writer. As you study the various lessons provided in the menu to the right, keep the following points in mind.

1. Like speaking, the purpose of writing is communication. Unlike speaking, though, the person to whom you are writing is not present. Therefore, you must make sure your meaning is clear. This is acomplished through careful word choice and grammatical correctness.



2. Always read what you have written aloud. When you read aloud, you will notice that good writing, like speech, has a rhythm. With enough practice, you will be able to hear mistakes that your eyes have missed.



3. Do not write in your native language and then translate to English. This is difficult even for professional translators.



4. If you are really serious about improving your writing and speaking, read more English materials. Read by phrase, not word by word. Read ideas not words, and whenever possible, read aloud.