Approaches to Teaching Second Language Writing

Abstract

This paper provides a general overview of two major approaches to teaching and reserching ESL/EFL writing: the product-oriented and process-oriented approaches. The former focuses on the text, the final output of the writing process, and on the superficial elements of language: grammar and mechanics. In contrast, the latter approach, which is based on cognitive psycholog theories, concentrates on the process itself, that is, how a writer can explore and generate ideas, so that content and discourse in a piece of writing are the major concerns. Included in this paper are discussions about salient components related to each approach, followed by additional comments and the final recommendations in which the integration of both orientations is suggested.