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Ebaby's ESL Teacher

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mitchelk

mitchelkSuper Member!

United States

March 7, 2008

Writing can be hard, even for me a native English speaker and ESL teacher. But once ESL students become comfortable with writing in English, it is important to introduce some common structures in English writing.

 

 

 Traditionally in English, an essay states the main idea in the first paragraph and each paragraph that follows supports the main idea. While this rigid structure is not always followed, students should understand that normally they should structure their writing in that manner. 

ESL teachers, especially native English speakers, may not consider teaching essay organization, but some cultures value other essay structures. There is a great video clip about a nonnative English speaker, Pablo Zapata, and his problems with the very direct manner of English essay writing.

Some students may have a hard time transitioning to this style of writing, but once their language is intelligible, it is a necessity. English readers have certain expectations about how writing should be organized, especially in academics.  As teachers, we should give our students the skills to meet readers' expectations.

More entries: Writing with Structure in the ESL Classroom (60), TOEFL, my life!, Emotions in the ESL classroom (1), ESL Classroom Atmosphere and Friendships (10), Interlanguage and Teacher Frustration (16), Fun Online ESL Writing and Reading Lessons (1), Wikis in the ESL/EFL classroom! (7), Students as Teachers...hmm (12)

View all entries from Ebaby's ESL Teacher >

09:46 AM Feb 14 2017

Yurdoom

Yurdoom
Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Hi Mitchelk, i hope you are great. I'm from Iran and i wonder if it is ok with you to help me with my English whenever your time lets you.? I'll really appreciate it if you allocate even a very short time for this.

Best regards,

Morteza

03:41 PM Feb 05 2015

vagnervb
Brazil

I want talk winth the somebofy people!

09:14 AM Feb 19 2014

Anja12
Germany

i`m here because I want to improve my english ..

I hope I find people who can help me with that

02:56 PM Jan 30 2014

magk
Egypt

 very important topic, thank you on View  this topic 

12:48 AM Jun 15 2012

garypan1123
Taiwan

Hi Mitchell,my name is Gary,hope to make friend with you and improve my English in writing and speaking.

Wow ,english is too difficult to English, I would like be a good speaker on English.thanks.

02:08 AM Mar 04 2012

Honest2012

Honest2012
China

hi ! mitchelk, I am a Chinese student . My English is not very well ,I want to be your fanse

honest fans,foreverCool

12:42 AM Feb 28 2012

mansoor05

mansoor05
Pakistan

I'm here to improve my English and meet some foreign friends.

Skype ID: mansoorkhalid05

Email: manikhalid@yahoo.com

03:04 AM Nov 05 2011

foz12

foz12
Saudi Arabia

I'm looking forward to improve my writing(beside ESL), which I need when I write a minutes of meeting or reports in English. Thank you.

02:03 AM Sep 13 2011

englishteacher24/7
United States

Hello Ms. Mitchelk,

We all need your teaching here and hope that you will return soon!

05:00 PM Jul 16 2011

mesutakmar

mesutakmar
Turkey

I want to learn English too. I'm happy teach :$

02:18 AM May 12 2011

KK SHUM
China

Hi, mitchelk.. This is KK from China.. I need to improve my spoken english in a short time.. Please kindly advise me how to do.. It's better you have friends who want to learn chinese, so that I can teach he/she chinese at the same time to learn english..I wish all my heart I could speak good english.. Pls help me!! Thanks.. My MSN: kk.shum@hotmail.com      

03:16 AM Apr 05 2011

tabga7
Sudan

hi,,mitchlk,,,,,,,,how are you ihope you  are health and ver gld when you recive this message to comment for your article,,,,,,,,,,,,iam sudanes iwant to improve my english language ,,,,,ineed you help if you can ,,,,,,with my best wishes

01:38 AM Mar 03 2011

Leesinger

Leesinger
China

nice to see u and read ur articals accidently

ahhhhh...how to find someone to practise english together...

i need friends

nowadays..i should not be so hard to find a friend oversea...but..

09:54 AM Feb 16 2011

Alexandra Ro
Romania

 hi i'm from romania , i'm only 16 years old but i'm interested in speaking english better ohh and my name is alexandra

09:49 PM Jan 24 2011

englishteacher24/7
United States

Mitchelk,

I appreciate reading your writing, you can help take my English to the next level.

Thanks!

05:51 AM Jan 15 2011

Nataliya23

Nataliya23
Russian Federation

 Hi mitchelk! How are you?:) I'm ruussian student, my name is Nataliya, i'm 21 years old. I have been in USA last summer,this coutry is awesome!!!! I would like improuve my american english:) Can you help me? We can communicate?:)

08:16 PM Dec 24 2010

ken52

ken52
Thailand

Even we haven't known yet. I've read your blog. I really like your ways of writing.

It's really useful for me,non-native speaker... to know how  native speakers did it.

07:14 PM Dec 15 2010

annie wyx

annie wyx
China

 hello,good to know you,i am a chinese student,i am appreciate to be your firend.looking forword hearing from you~~~

07:11 PM Dec 15 2010

annie wyx

annie wyx
China

 Innocent

06:17 AM Dec 04 2010

sebrina56
China

Hello I'm a college student ,major in English. I want to make a freind who can help me to improve my spoken Engkish firstly ,then share all my feelings with .

My MSN sebrina0729@hotmail.com

04:27 AM Oct 01 2010

argc group

argc group
India

argc group

hello friend i want to be your friend. i hope u will be accept my request..thanks

argc group

08:25 AM Apr 26 2010

Classic Girl
Saudi Arabia

HI Mitchelk,

speaking of my self Writing is my biggest weaknessCry. I need to improve my skill.

If you have any extra information that woul be GREAT.

 

09:46 AM Feb 04 2010

maroo7a

maroo7a
Jordan

Hey mitchelk!

Thank you so much for this useful blog!

Well, i'm studying English literature. Last semester, a native American teacher tought me in writing class. 

I have to admit, speaking is easier than writing, even she says so. It's really hard to write, that's why I would say; stream of consciousness sounds better, where we don't have to make an outline, but once I read a poem called "an anecdote of the jar" I'm now in total commitment to an organized style.

So, agter this course, I'm following the outline that I make. Although it's tough to make one, at least it can be grasped easily

01:25 PM Sep 23 2009

chief_wang

chief_wang
China

 I purely agree with you, and what you mentioned in your article help a lot! A big thank-you to you!Smile

04:47 AM Sep 07 2009

wikle

wikle
China

 my ICQ:554197387

12:31 AM Sep 07 2009

zhuanghuihui
China

 hello:    Iam glad to meet you.I want to make a friend .if you want ,please join www.qq.com give you my qq member 378156595 thank you Tongue out

12:31 AM Sep 07 2009

zhuanghuihui
China

 hello:    Iam glad to meet you.I want to make a friend .if you want ,please join www.qq.com give you my qq member 378156595 thank you Tongue out

12:31 AM Sep 07 2009

zhuanghuihui
China

 hello:    Iam glad to meet you.I want to make a friend .if you want ,please join www.qq.com give you my qq member 378156595 thank you Tongue out

12:31 AM Sep 07 2009

zhuanghuihui
China

 hello:    Iam glad to meet you.I want to make a friend .if you want ,please join www.qq.com give you my qq member 378156595 thank you Tongue out

01:31 AM Sep 06 2009

xj3481413

xj3481413
China

Hi,boddy,I am a chinese ,I want to make friends with you,are you an English teacher in the U.S.?I like to talk to you,please leave a message for me,thank you for your time