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mitchelk

mitchelkSuper Member! Super Member

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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.

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 :$

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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 >

Info

38

Female


Location

United States

Work

Portland State Univeristy/ Portland Community College

Education

Student/ Teacher

Study

Graduate School

Portland State University

Education

Teaching English

English Study

United States

Native Speaker

Interests

I am a lover of books and movies. I am also quite crafty: calligraphy, painting, book making.

Breakfast in cafes and kindness

The Weakerthans are my favorite. They have bbeautiful lyrics.

Life Aquatic is the best. The images of ocean are so different from reality with everything glowing and colorful. I wish I could live in that reality.

: www.etsy.com

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