Preparation

Find writing samples from the language backgrounds of the ESL learners in your program if you want to include them.
Copy handout.

STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS

1. Hand out Writing Samples. Introduce the page by saying that it represents some of the different writing systems found across the globe. Remind tutors that not all languages have a written form.
2. Talk about the main writing systems as follows and ask tutors for examples of each category. (We give examples as well, just in case your tutors can’t come up with any.)
   • Ideographic
     • This started with pictures.
     • Later it changed into characters/pictures that came to represent an idea associated with the object.
     • Examples include Egyptian hieroglyphics or Chinese characters.
     • These scripts are not language-specific because they are not tied to pronunciation and can transcend language barriers. For example, the Chinese script was used for Korean until the Koreans invented their own script.
     • Ideographic writing systems may be difficult to learn, because a person has to memorize many characters in order to be literate. For example, one needs to know 3,000 to 5,000 characters to have basic literacy skills in Chinese.
   • Syllabic
     • Over time, characters came to represent one syllable. The characters no longer looked very much like the pictures they represented originally, so the characters had to be memorized. This writing system works well for languages with relatively simple syllabic structure.
     • Examples include Japanese and Ethiopian.
   • Alphabetic
     • Uses letters to represent sounds and pairs of letters to represent more complex sounds.
     • It’s easier to achieve literacy in this type of writing as there are few symbols (letters) to learn.
     • Misspellings can be generally understood because of the phonetic basis.
     • Because the letters are tied to sounds in the language, these writing scripts don’t cross language barriers well.
     • Examples include English and Vietnamese. Individual languages can use combinations of these main writing systems.
3. Add that the English idea of paragraphs and some of the other ways we format written work (like newspaper articles) are not universal.
4. Conclude by saying that the closer the first written language of the learner is to English, the easier it will be for that learner to learn and use the English writing system. Also mention that if the learner can write in another language, he will be able to transfer some concepts about the nature of writing and this will make it easier to learn the English writing system. A learner who cannot write or read in his first language will have a harder time.
5. Share written samples from the language backgrounds of the ESL learners in your program if you want to.