Reflection of Severino, Guerra, and Butler's Writing in Multicultural Settings :: Silva's Differences in ESL an Native-English-Speaker Writing: The Research and Its Implications and Kubota's Japanese Culture Constructed by Discourses: Implications for Applied Linguistics Research and ELT from TESOL Quarterly

I've always heard about writing that are different grammatically compared to Native English Speakers (NES); but I've never really heard about the context that is being said in the writing. Now thinking of it, it makes sense. Certain cultures have certain ways of communicating including speaking and writing. It's a way of expression one self. In an English setting, some of these ways of writing could be strange.. but is it wrong? It's just a way of expression, no? Of course, if the importance of the ESL's writing is lost in confusing with grammar, of course that would need to be corrected. However, if a writing is written in a "situation-problem-solution-conclusion pattern" (ESL student) and not "claim-justification-conclusion patter" (NES student), is there a big difference?

Western culture and eastern culture is different and it could be seen in students writing, or any forms of communication. As what Hinkel and Silva from the previous posts talk about culture reflecting in writing, you can also see the "easternization" or the "westernization" the student may possess. Teacher should be aware of differences and be open about it. However, teachers should not assume all students are the same if they come from the same cultural background. (Note!)

I guess, there probably is a big difference if a persuasive paper is to be written. There are certain styles that the audience tend to prefer over another. Martin Luther King Jr. has a very good persuasive speech. With that kind of writing style in as a model, ESL students can learn from it. According to the text, giving some time for the students to write, it could help students be more aware of what they should change and improve. But as teachers, we cannot turn down the students and make them self-conscious of what they have written.

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