Why is Writing important for an EFL teacher?

Because is part of the 3 tools that an English teacher should manage, these tools are speak, read and last but not least write. It is so necessary to understand the writing process because it is a little bit harder than talking or reading. Practice is not enough, as a teacher we have to use it everyday in order not to forget it. It is easy to forget how to write more than speak or read, because, when you are writing everyone can notice your mistakes, in other words, “miss spellings”. Finally I would like to share with you an advice that a friend gave to me, he told me: “the way you write is the way you speak”. So whenever I have to use one of my 3 tools I do it thinking in English all the time.

What is the best way to teach writing to children and to teenagers? (Provide examples and references)

The best way to teach your students (children or teenagers) is to teach them how to free write. The student feels relaxed, and as a result there is no frustration about writing. The goal is to generate as much material as possible. We as teachers have to be able to help our students to generate ideas without destroying them at the same time. The point is to let them write without stopping in order to keep up with the idea they have in mind, with that it is necessary to let them know that at the end of their task, they have to go back to the beginning and start editing whatever needs to be fixed, so that way they would be applying grammar and everything they have been taught so far.
If we are able to help our students to think in English, for sure we can feel glad that we have taught them something. In other words we are dealing with TSL (thinking in second language) instead of ESL (English as a second language).
The most effective way in which we, as EFL writing teachers, can help our students to be better writers is by:
1. Helping them get rid of negative attitudes towards writing through the free writing process.
2. Giving them feasible writing assignments, complete with specific instructions.
3. Giving specific feedback and correction in writing conferences, or in written form.
If these three suggestions are followed, combined with the teacher's patience and care, then "postponed writing won't exist anymore.
Some other exercises that help are: puzzles, beginning or finishing stories, brainstorming (directed by the teacher), journals and many others.

Andres Guenante Garrido
Writing II