Date:
May 2000
Page No.:
196
Writer(s):
Kyoko Yamada, Kansai Gaidai University
When learning how to write academic English essays, EFLIESL learners often
find it difficult to appreciate the value of textual patterns. They tend to perceive
the patterns as rules controlling them rather than as tools facilitating their growth
as writers. In helping EFL/ESL writers dispel such a negative notion of textual
patterns, this study suggests that teaching summarization is effective. In this
paper, I will discuss how summary writing activities using satellite English TV
news items can be exploited in teaching textual patterns. I will also report on
the results of a series of summary writing lessons conducted in a class of ESL
writers at the upper-intermediate level.
