My Country is Different

Do People Approach Writing Differently in Your L1?

Different cultures and languages approach writing in different ways and these approaches may shape the ways in which you teach writing (ESL) in your country.

• Before class interview international students from your home country.
• Discuss what they consider "good" writing in their L1 and in English.
• If possible, collect samples of their writing in both their L1 and in English.
• If possible, in class gather with students from your home country or those with the same L1. If not possible, form an "other" language group; a group for those of your without 2 or more people with the same L1.
• In these groups discuss what your interviews found with regard to what is "good" writing in both your L1 and English.
• Hopefully, you found both similarities and differences in the responses that you received. Take those similarities and differences and construct a language specific approach for teaching writing in your country (ideally, this would include an analysis of writing samples from the subjects).
• This process should help to shape your upcoming Instructional Unit.