When I first started learning writing, I sat at my desk and stared at my writing task, unwilling to jot down a word. Expressing my thoughts has long been an arduous task for me. To make things worse, my high expectations for myself have also placed enormous pressure on my shoulders.
Recognizing my shortcomings when it comes to thinking and communicating in English, I joined a writing program called Englist in 9th grade. Over the past three years, my journey with Englist and T. Adam has turned me into a critical thinker and an effective communicator.
The Simple Persuasive Essay (SPE)
My writing journey began in 9th grade when T. Adam taught me how to write a special kind of writing tool called a Simple Persuasive Essay, or SPEs. Through participating in a rigorous curriculum, I learned how to write SPEs to express my opinions in just 16 sentences.
The SPE contains an introduction with a hook, background, and a thesis statement. The introduction is then followed by two body paragraphs that each contains a topic sentence, a concrete detail, two sentences of commentary, and a concluding sentence. After the body paragraphs, the conclusion includes a summary, an ultimate outcome, and a final thought.
As I completed multiple writing exercises over a period of months, I could feel my language skills improving. However, the improvement was limited because I was unaware of how to write coherently and obsessed with using big words, leaving my ideas disconnected and unclear. With the constructive feedback from T. Adam, I became driven to pay more attention to word use and sentence structures.
Taipei Teen Tribune at Englist
As my writing advanced through a year of rigorous work, I was eventually able to enroll in Englist’s writing club, Taipei Teen Tribune, in 10th grade. I was immediately astonished by how the club works. I could research and write about my favorite topics such as Taiwanese education, the COVID-19 pandemic, and personal experiences. Furthermore, I could follow my own pace to work on my articles for publishing as long as I am making progress. Therefore, I could write with more engagement and passion.
The next step for me was to check for stale language in my articles. Because I usually think academically, sometimes I offer too much information to make every possible point. Moreover, some of my language may be too formal or unclear for readers to understand, and thus some of my work was likely to drive away readers’ attention. However, that is why I am determined to try not to write like a textbook and make my language more accessible for readers. Though producing articles was challenging and time-consuming, I persisted and worked hard.
During classes, we also held discussions about current events and literary works, enabling me to expand how I view the world. All of the reading and discussions are done in class, so I got in-depth guidance to reflect on what has been introduced to train my thinking. Noticing these priceless opportunities, I actively participated in class discussions.
I cherish the thought-exchanging atmosphere because it exposes me to others’ ideas and allows me to learn from their insights. Moreover, the intense discussions we have had have allowed me to gain a glimpse into the nuances of Western society, especially American culture. As the years passed, I perceived that sharing my thoughts in English was becoming less difficult.
Final thoughts about Englist and TTT
I have published 14 articles on the Taipei Teen Tribune website and have dedicated myself to my role as a senior staff writer. My three-year participation in Englist has also prepared me for college. Most fundamentally, though, Englist has taught me the lesson that writing is not just simply about getting assignments done, but is also about thinking, organizing, and conveying my thoughts to others effectively.
My journey with Englist and T. Adam has profoundly influenced my schoolwork and boosted my confidence in communicating. As a stronger thinker and communicator today, I do not intend to stop pursuing writing any time soon.
Wow, what a wonderful learning, thinking, and writing experience. I believe you will continue to have a great journey with Englist.