Reading, Writing, Spelling and the ESL Learner

Writing and the ESL Learner

• Does your learner know enough vocabulary to provide words and expressions for the written work that you are proposing? Make sure the learner has enough knowledge to handle the written work.
• Do you teach printing or cursive writing (handwriting)? Some learners will prefer cursive writing because it is closer to writing in their first language. Others will balk at cursive writing and only want to print as that resembles the strokes they use in their first language. However, learners should be able to read handwritten notes and be able to have a handwritten signature.
• Learning new symbols and the related pen strokes can be exhausting. Use writing relaxation exercises that tighten and then loosen muscles before starting and provide breaks. Practise pen strokes before trying the whole letter.
• Writing may be last on the learner’s list of needs but it can help reinforce other language skills.
• Dictation isn’t just used for spelling practice with ESL learners, it also provides a grammar check. Small words (e.g., in, at) may be omitted. Some words may be out of order. This allows a glimpse of how the learner is processing English.
• Grammar differences will cause frustration for beginners who may also be struggling with writing a letter or word. Provide easier grammar work like cut-apart sentences for beginners.
• Beginner ESL learners will benefit from writing their own stories with you as the scribe.
• Your learner may not know what heights to make each letter because in some languages all letters/characters are the same height.
• Capitalization may be problematic because some languages have no capitals and others have mainly capitals. Capitalization may be represented by bolding in other languages.
• Learners may have to learn how to space between words and when to separate or join letters within a word.
• Provide sample writing formats (letters, essays, etc.) and practise in the formats they need to learn.
• Some learners may be very familiar with computers but may need to learn the keyboard used here.

Brokop, F. (n.d.). Spelling and the ESL learner. Edmonton, Alberta: NorQuest College. Workshop handout. Used with permission.