How Important Is Writing When Learning A Language?

When we are learning a language we may see writing as something that is just sort of an extra thing we can do if we are very keen. However, writing in a new language is extremely important. 

It may not help us learn anything new, but it is a seriously powerful way for us to easily master what we do already know and if you think this isn’t important, you are wrong.

Writing is an extremely important activity and we need to all be doing it as soon as we have the basics down and I will go through the reasons why it is so important.

Writing Is Output

Writing is a form of output as you need to produce the language yourself. This means that writing is not actually that important when it comes to initially learning the language. You actually need to absorb the language in the beginning, which means reading and listening, which are input activities.

Input is how you acquire language and while you will need to start here, it does not mean that writing, and output in general is a waste of time.

Output will allow you to strengthen your knowledge and will allow you to really master your skills, so it is still very important in the overall picture.

When you look at students who go from intermediate to advanced, it is usually the students who do a lot of output that really see the fastest progress. They usually acquire the language through input in the beginner stage, but once they start using it themselves and do things like writing, they really see their skills skyrocket.

Writing may not be the first thing you need to look at when learning a language, but it is still extremely important.

(You can read more about – The Input vs Output Language Learning Methods)

Writing Is A Form Of Communication

One of the reasons why writing is so powerful is due to the fact that it is a form of communication. We often forget this, but it really is. Just look at how many text messages you send each day, or even take this very post you are reading, I’ve had to write it and I am now communicating with you. 

However, as you can see it is only half the battle. I can sit here and write all day, but you need to be able to read for my message to get through. 

The different skills of Language really are tightly interlinked, which can make it hard to separate things out. Writing is very much an important form of communication, but we also need reading to go along with it.

Writing Allows You To Express Yourself

Writing also allows you to express yourself and you can often untangle things in your mind by simply writing them down.

While this is usually reserved for dealing with problems it can actually work very well with language learning. If a concept is not to clear in your mind, say for example, writing a verb in the past tense, then you can write this down and sort of untangle what is going though your mind and see you actually understand it.

You can write down simple sentences and just test yourself to see if you can make sense of the language or not. Being able to get it out of your brain and down onto paper is really going to make the difference. You are either going to be satisfied that you know how to use the language or not.   

(You can read more about – How Does Writing In A Second Language Differ From Writing In Your Native Language?)

Writing Will Increases Your Memory

Writing is also important as it works your memory. You need to be able to recall things in order to write them down and simply the more you do this, the stronger your ability will be.

This means that simply practicing will increase you memory and make you more comfortable and faster with the language. You won’t need to sit and think about a word, it will just naturally come to you like words in your own language, simply because you have written them down more often. 

(You can read more about – Memory Tricks For Language Learning)

Writing Perfects Your Grammar

In the same way that writing helps your memory, it also helps with your grammar. You are going to be forced to use grammar in every sentence and simply the more you write, the more times you will have to use the grammar.

With time you will be very comfortable with the grammar you have learned if you are writing a lot. It will be second nature to you.

(You can read more about – How Can Writing In a Second Language Improve Your Overall Language Skills?)

Writing Helps With Your Spelling

Another area where writing makes the difference is spelling. Spelling might seem like it is not important, but mastering this small aspects of the language really can make the difference.

Knowing exactly how a word is spelt is going to help you recognise it faster when reading, but it also helps you remember it better.

It is extremely annoying learning how to spell words, but it is important and it does help both your writing and your overall knowledge of the language.

Writing Can Help You Think In Your New Language

Writing is important as it allows us to think in the new language. When we right we need to produce the language are self. We can do this by translating in our head what we want to say, but it will be more productive if we try and think in the language instead.

The more we do this, the quicker we will become at it and writing just gives us this opportunity to do this. If we want to reach the higher levels of the language then we need this skill and writing is something that can help us train that today. 

(You can read more about – How To Think In Another Language)

Writing Shows Us Our Blind Spots

Writing will also show us areas we are weak in, which is extremely important.

When you are writing you will have to remember words and how to use grammar. If you are sat there and realise you don’t know how to do something, or really can’t remember, well you have just identified a weakness that you need to focus on.

I know it’s annoying at the time, but really this is extremely important. Now you know what to study the next time you are studying. 

Finding little gaps in your knowledge can be tough to spot, but writing will make sure you see them and we should appreciate this.

(You can read more about – Frequently Asked Questions About – Writing In Your New Language)

Writing Gives You A Record Of Your Progress

Writing is one of the few activities where we have a record of our progress, which is extremely important. Language learning is slow and painful at times and it can really feel like we are getting nowhere.

Writing can really help us see how far we have come. If you keep what you have written, you can always look back and see how much progress you have made, it’s literally all there for you to see in black and white.

You will see that you have grown your vocabulary and stopped making certain mistakes as well as become faster at writing.

Being able to notice little progressions like this can be huge and can really help you stay motivated.

(You can read more about – How To Improve Your Writing Skills In A Foreign Language)

You Can Take Your Time

Writing allows us to take our time which is very important when we are learning. In the early days it is going to take us a while to remember things and we may need to correct a few things before we are finished.

There is no rush with writing and we can take this time to focus and get everything right and double check things.

The pressure is just not the same compared to speaking, where you can feel very rushed and you don’t really get to work through things in the same way. Writing allows us to go at our own pace and this does make a difference.   

(You can read more about – How To Practice Writing In A Language)

Writing Can Contribute To Your Speaking Skills

Writing and speaking are also very closely linked. They are basically the same process in the brain, it is just that end result is slightly different. They both require us to form the language ourselves and to pull all knowledge together to either say or write something.

This means if you train one, you are also massively helping with the other. Writing is very important as it is going to directly link to your ability to speak. This is an area people struggle with and if you can practice your writing and help your speaking then this is extremely beneficial.

(You can read more about – Should You Focus On Writing In A New Language?)

Conclusion

As you can see writing is important for a number of reasons, but basically the more you write, the more you will see an improvement in your language skills.

This is really all we want when we are studying, so make sure you include writing into your activities it is important.

(You can read more about – Writing Resources For Language Learning)