Some people tell me that they would practice writing more, but they need a native speaker to correct their writing, or it is a waste of time. I agree that in a perfect world it would be nice to have this luxury. Unfortunately, this is unrealistic thinking. It would be very difficult, if not impossible, to find someone willing to correct your writing for free all the time. I’d like to do it on this website, but with so many students it’s impossible. I’d instead prefer to read what you guys write, and make general comments on areas where most people are having problems. I think it is more beneficial to everyone that way.

The truth is that even if you don’t have anyone to correct your writing, it is still extremely important to practice it. Just the act of trying to write something, tests your own mind to search for the most suitable words and phrases. It helps you understand where your own weaknesses are and where you need improvement. If you find that you can’t express a certain idea, the next time you read a native speaker writing about this idea, it will “jump out” at you and you will be more likely to remember it for the next time you write. If you never write, you will be unaware at the topics, expressions, and types of sentences that are giving you the most difficulty. Remember that understanding something is much easier than producing it yourself. It’s the same with anything. I could watch someone else build a house and I’d feel that I understood the process. But if you asked me to go out to an open field and build a house by myself, I’d be utterly useless. I’d probably just lie down on the grass and take a nap. If I did start to do work on the house, I’d see where I needed help and I’d most certainly pay more attention to that part the next time I was watching someone else build one.

There’s no better time to start practicing than now, so let’s see what you can do.