In my ESL writng class, it was a subject about Writing. There were a couple of questions I did answer. It’s still what I think about writing now.
Describe how writing was taught in your previous schooling by answering these questions
- How often did you have to write?
- What kinds of topics did you write about? Give one or two samples.
- what kinds of comments did the teacher make on our papers?
- What was considered more important: the content of your papers (what you said) or correct grammar and spelling (how you said it)?
When I was a little girl, I dreamed I would a become a writer. l always copied down some good sentences or essays and cut out wonderful articles from newspapers or books after I my reading. I didn’t write a diary every day, but I tried to write often.
I remember my teacher asked us to write one essay about childhood in my junior school. In the beginning, I wrote: most people had a colorful and happy childhood, but I didn’t for some of the political reasons. Even though my childhood wasn’t easy, I was still proud of my childhood. It taught me the ability to thank about how difficult life was and trained my eyes to observe the world. The teacher put the red mark under these sentences and asked me to read my essay in front of the class. He made the comments:” Good describing and an elegant essay”.
From that time, I felt my writing pleased the teacher and myself. Then I started to write essay and poems. Even time, I feel what I said is important when I want to write some things. Writing became my hobby.
How do you feel about writing in your native language compared to writing in English?
I really like to read poems because one word can give me many Images in the old poems in my language. I had tried to translate the poem to English, but I felt it couldn’t describe the meaning very well. They are totally different languages and cultures. I found I couldn’t directly translate from my language to English. I started to write some of my essays and poems in English. But I have to think about the grammar and spelling.
When I want to write some things, I could write quickly and fluently in my language. I felt it’s important that I opened my mind after I wrote in English. It gave me more fresh ideas. When I tried to write letters to communicate with others in English, it could improve my English. In the beginning, it wasn’t easy. As time goes by, I felt more comfortable. And also, it’s worthwhile.
Have you ever done any writing for yourself only– letters, journals, diaries, poems?
I have written the letters to my father or friends. Sometimes, I would like to write journals and poems. And also, I do often write the letters in the internet.
It was different from the writing for school assignments. If I wrote my letters, essay and poems, I could write about whatever topic I like or according by my inspiration. I felt I could release my thoughts from the stress of thinking. I enjoyed showing my feeling by my free writing. It was freer than the assignments in the school. I could write fluently if I liked the topic, which was given by the teacher. On the contrary, if I didn’t like the topic, I only searched for words what I should say.
— January 12, 2002
