Teaching strategies for grammar can also be used for building writing skills. ESL students need to learn basic sentence structure, vocabulary and proper grammar. A common method to practice all three is by writing. Instructors can also integrate vocabulary and spelling lessons into writing exercises. Students can use grammar as a building block to writing sentences, then paragraphs, and finally more complex writing in the form of short answers and essays.
Lessons on subjects like typing or penmanship will include a lot of writing, which can also be used by ESL students to build writing skills. Students can focus on accuracy instead of speed. Typing class is also an ideal way to normalize complicated English writing concepts like punctuation and word order. Asking students to copy something by hand from a book or audio track and testing for accuracy is another way instructors can utilize this method if computers are not available.
Puzzles and word games used to teach more basic writing skills are often intended for younger learners. Students can unscramble jumbles of words or phrases, paraphrase statements in their own words or translate historic texts into more modern English or even slang. Sometimes trying to build writing skills can be a tiring and intimidating process; an engaging game can be used to cheer a group of adults or hold the attention of energetic elementary students.
Free writing is easier to use with students that have a higher level of writing skill but can be altered for beginners as well. Free writing can take the form of daily journals, letters of correspondence, personal commentary, and creative writing. This method can be modified to include pairs, as in the case of interviews or second-person narratives, or groups can get together and write scripts.