Does writing improve ones english?

From what I’ve read, or questions that are posted here when it comes to improving english, the suggestions are to practice it constantly. Please give me a random topic to talk about. And I shall type in what I would say in english

I don’t really think that is the way to practice, @unodos. It will create confusion between the errors of hasty typing and actual instances of improperly composed English sentences. Speaking and writing are two different activities.

Writing and reading will do much to improve your written English. Speaking and listening will improve your spoken English. All English practice will improve your English generally. But writing as fast as you can won’t help you practice speaking.

Your interest in improving your speech is commendable. You need to find someone to practice with.

Yes I have someone to practice with, however, we are both trying to speak good english too. So I’m not sure if we are doing it correctly.

You probably want to take your time and type out what you think is correct. Go ahead and edit. Use the forum to improve your reading and writing. Typing fast isn’t going to improve your spoken English at all. I have to agree with Jeruba.

So its really just reading and writing that I’m going to improve?

You can always ask us specific questions. Mind you, we will disagree a lot! But we shouldn’t differ much on what is good basic English.

[Edit] Yes, that’s all we can help you with here, because this is a written medium. Most of us do not write as we speak. Does your written Spanish sound like your speech? Speech is usually much more informal and much looser, with sentence fragments, casual grammar, etc.. In good writing we use complete sentences, often write longer and more complex sentences, build logical paragraphs, etc. Few people speak that way.

That’s good to know. I thought more people who speak english, speak the same way they write.

The best way I have found for improving my English (and it is my native tounge) is to read, read, read.

I am a writing teacher and will concur with the comments here. Reading and writing will improve reading and writing… and maybe your spoken vocabulary. But even with native English speakers there is often a big difference between the way they speak (full of pauses, slang, verbal ticks, varying pronunciations, etc.) and the way they write. That is why fabulous writers are not always great speakers, and vice versa. In fact, reading and writing are not controlled by the same parts of the brain as speaking/listening.

I second @Judi‘s quip. (well, except the tounge part. ツ)

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Furthermore, I don’t think “typing as fast as you speak” without making correction demonstrates anything at all about your mastery of the English language. There’s plenty of native English speakers who do that. We call that “lazy”.

@robmandu, spellcheck covers a multitude of sins, but I’m on the freiggin’ iPhone here!

@Judi, when you get a chance, make sure to add Ghlouthyrrh to your spell check dictionary.

@unodos: When you speak with a friend who is not a native English speaker, you may both make the same mistakes. Try to find a native speaker who will chat with you. Learning to speak a language is slow and steady work. I have been laboring over my spoken French since I was 15.

Sometimes I can rattle off a lovely sentence in French but have trouble understanding the answer if it is spoken rapidly with lots of elisions.

You can always watch American cartoons too.

I do not think writing alone will help your English…. if you keep writing incorrectly, you’re not going to magically fix it without learning anything new. I suggest taking a college course or find a tutor.

You guys are sooo lucky. I just wrote an in depth discussion of ELL’s and BICS & CALP, then something made it disappear. When that happens, I take it as a higher power telling me to shut up.

@galileogirl, ELL, BICS, CALP—what are you talking about?

English Language Learners
Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills
Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency
(Jim Cummins)
California teachers have to learn all about language acquisition theory and sometimes when you push the wrong button it comes gushing out

@galileogirl We are of similar backgrounds. I am a teacher, instructor, professor, tutor, etc. in California too.

It is really hard work learning a new language. I agree with everyone that writing English (or other languages) does not translate directly into improved oral language skills. However, it does reinforce standard structures used in formulating sentences, pharses, and words. Many people are excellent in their ability to read and write a language but not strong in speaking the language and, of course, there are also those who speak a language fluently but are poor writer.

Read Read Read Read….

@jamielynn2328 I am Iam I am. Is there a specific book that I should be reading? What kind of books, what types of books? A long book? or short essays? this questions is for everyone, especially those who answered to read.

@jamielynn2328 If you are wanting to improve your conversational English language facility, listening to conversation is far more useful than reading. Listen and copy what you hear other speakers saying. Identify someone whose way of talking you like and practice the way that person talks. Pay attention to how fast the person talks, the pauses, the words that are used, and other qualities that you hear but also pay attention to gestures and facial expression. Consider hiring a speech coach.

Reading matter that might help is popular magazines and contemporary novels. Popular magazines often use a conversational style that is more casual than formal writing. Dialogue in novels is not a strict imitation of speech but an artful rendition of it. However, it can give a sense of how people talk.

@galileogirl Lazarus: Form Recovery might come in useful in the future ;-)

Like Time, Fortune, People, magazines?

For a more elegant style, read The New Yorker, Harper’s, Atlantic ‘zines. Time and Fortune will have a much higher quality of writing than People, which is riddled with common errors. Just look at the pictures.

The nytimes.com has a couple of handy features which I always show my students: first, iht.com is the new york times global edition; same quality, more your neighborhood. Second, you can “print” any article, then when it is in the print page, it is clean and clear, without annoying ads, and you can either really print it out, or read it at leisure. When you come across a new word, or you aren’t sure as to the pronunciation of a word, highlight it and a little window will pop up with the definition and even a pronunciation icon. Click to hear. Lastly, New York Times always has some audio or even video clips of articles – so you can read and hear, or watch, which is like having a private tutor.

Your English is excellent – this is the level for you.

Postscript: try Time.com and read the “most popular” articles to save time.

And, Yahoo’s homepage is the most widely read on the net. Read what most people are reading.

Here’s another little-known read and listen nugget (which will help you pronounce new words): www.podictionary.com

:-)

:-)

@Zen That site is amazing. Do you know of others that work in the same manner? Thank you for that information.

@Rozee Send me a private comment, please, which will act a reminder to find some others for you. I search and find pretty good.