What’s the best method for improving an ESL student’s writing ability?
blaine a day asked:
I am an ESL teacher in China and my students are struggling with English grammar, especially articles (a, an, the). I have been trying to help them as much as I can but, I feel, they are making little progress.
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I am an ESL teacher in China and my students are struggling with English grammar, especially articles (a, an, the). I have been trying to help them as much as I can but, I feel, they are making little progress.
April 1st, 2009 at 6:31 pm
When my cousins came to America and those that are in America now they keep a journal my Grandfather gives to them when they first get here. They are encouraged to write even if they don’t have much to write about. They write about how they are feeling, what they are thinking and such. They are told to write what they are thinking and to make no revisions to their thought. Every so often my Grandfather checks their journals and uses a red pen to correct their errors. They keep the journals and review their mistakes, so the next time they write a certain phrase or word they will make no mistake, because they can look at how it is supposed to be. Eventually, after doing this repeatedly for some time the right way to write things comes easily, without thought. This has proved helpful for a lot of my family in their English writing. I hope it can help your students too.
April 4th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
a,an,the are usually called ARTICLES.
A or AN is called Indefinite articles,because it leaves indefinite the person.
EX; a doctor, ( it means any doctor)
‘An’ will come in front of vowels only ( words starts with a,e i,o u)
ex: an asian , an idea, an apple, an umbrella………….
Definite artilce THE is used when we speak of a particular person or one already referred.
Ex ; the book , the himalayas, Let us go to the club.
Above are simple verson examples of ARTICLES.
‘The’ will present in front of
April 6th, 2009 at 4:00 am
How old are the students you work with? I would really focus on vocabulary with them so they will want to write more. The more english words they understand, the more they will want to write since they know the word. As far as the grammar, have writing lessons that focus on one article at a time. Read them a simple story or passage while they have a copy in their hands. Ask them to circle the word (example: cirlce all the “an”s). Demonstrate how to use the word by writing two sentences with “an” on the board. Then ask them to write several sentences with the word “an”. It sounds like they just need more instruction on one article at a time since they are confused on how to use them.
April 8th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Try word sorts- write phrase on cards “an orange,” ” a car,” etc. and have the students separate them into piles and come up with a rule for each pile (ex: phrases that have an and then a word that starts with a vowel & phrases that have “a” and words that do not start with a vowel sound). Then have them make up new cards that match the rules. You can also develop extension activities- write sentences with the phrases, etc. Also, keep them writing as much as possible.
April 11th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
The grammar practice series by Leo Jones might prove useful. Also How English Works has good writing activities.