Approaches to teaching writing in efl context

Abstract EN

The writing skill has been considered as the most difficult and complex skill to be taught and acquired as well.

The common concept between linguists and pedagogical specialists is that it is easier for second/foreign language learners to speak, listen and read L2 than write, since writing requires much more effort from language learners to be learned.

Writing teaching methods have been developed in accordance with the developments that affected English teaching methods and approaches.

In the current article, two types of teaching methods are presented chronologically.

The first type is the product approach followed by the process approach.

The aim is to show and identify the theoretical and practical linguistic shifting from product/guided writing to process writing in teaching writing for second/foreign language learners.

Product writing is a method of teaching writing, which emphasizes the students' finished written product.

It is termed a product-oriented approach which focuses on what to write and the rules of writing; the teacher is the only one who evaluates the final product; whereas the process writing approach puts emphasis on the composing process.

It pays more attention to how the piece of writing is created through stages such as planning, drafting and revising.

In the process approach, the teacher's role has changed from an evaluator of the written product to a facilitator and participant in the writing process.