The hard write (intermediate)

Writing in a Second Language Writing is a skill that many of us find difficult to improve. This is true not only when learning a second language but also in our first language. Out of the four main language skills—speaking, listening, reading, and writing—writing is the one that usually requires the most effort. When we were young, we learned to listen and speak without even thinking about it. The sounds around us, like the voices of our parents and others, slowly became familiar. We understood them, and then we learned how to speak back. Over time, we were able to have conversations and understand the people around us. This learning process happened naturally, without much effort. By the time we were seven or eight, we could speak quite well. And we continued to learn by listening to people, watching TV, and interacting with others. This is how we formed our unique way of speaking, called an idiolect. Reading, on the other hand, was a little harder. Most of us were lucky enough to start school at around six years old. In school, we learned how to read by starting with the alphabet, then moving on to sounds, words, and eventually full sentences and stories. This was a slow process, but eventually, we became good readers. Writing was different. Yes, we learned the basics in school, but writing always felt like a task. It wasn’t as easy as talking. You had to sit down, focus, and think carefully about what you were going to write. Writing felt like work, and not something you would do for fun. Because of this, many people don’t enjoy writing, even in their first language.

Sadly, many people never get better at writing. Even some native speakers struggle with writing clearly. I have seen many examples of poor writing, with messy sentences, wrong punctuation, confusing metaphors, and unclear meaning. Sometimes, people make spelling mistakes, but with a good spell checker, this is easy to fix. The bigger problem is the way sentences are put together or how ideas are expressed. Why does this happen? It’s because many people still see writing as a difficult task. I understand this feeling. I love writing, but I didn’t always feel this way. When I first started writing, I was trained to write quickly and correctly. Over time, I became comfortable with it. Writing became less of a chore and more enjoyable. Now, I even write for fun, without caring about earning money or getting praise. Just putting words together to tell a story or share an idea brings me joy. I know that I can’t make everyone enjoy writing, but I believe the way to improve is simple: write more. The more you write, the easier it becomes. You don’t need to start with big projects. You can start by keeping a diary, writing emails to friends, or posting on social media. Write whatever makes you happy. You don’t have to write perfectly at first. Over time, you will get better. 

If writing is difficult in your first language, it can be even harder in your second, third, or fourth language. But here’s the thing: if you don’t feel comfortable writing in your first language, it will be much harder to write in another language. So, if you want to get better at writing in English, the best advice I can give you is to practice writing in your first language as well. When I teach students, I encourage them to read more in their native language and to practice writing there too. Why? Because it helps to take away the fear and pressure of writing. I have noticed that the students who enjoy writing in their own language are often better at writing in English. Their writing feels more natural and less forced. They may not always have the best test scores or speaking skills, but they understand how to write. Writing well takes practice, just like speaking well does. So, if you want to improve your writing in English, remember what you did when you were learning to speak. Practice. Write often, make mistakes, get feedback, and try again. The more you write, the better you will become. And who knows, you might even start to enjoy it! Writing can be fun. Happy writing!