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Home ยป How is Writing to Learn Different Than Learning to Write?

How is Writing to Learn Different Than Learning to Write?

There is an ongoing debate about whether or not you should learn to write before you learn to speak. While it is true that both require skill and practice, it takes a different kind of learner to see the benefits of one over the other. If you’re looking for a skill that will serve you well in the future, consider developing your writing skills now. Here are just a few ways in which writing will help you learn and grow as a person.

Builds Confidence

Writing is an excellent way to build confidence. One of the primary reasons is that you’re forced to put your thoughts on paper. Even if you never plan on submitting your work for professional evaluation, at the very least you’ll be able to show someone your thoughts and ideas and know that you can articulate your thoughts well. In school, you may be asked to write an essay, write a research paper, or simply write a letter to your best friend. No matter what the assignment is, your teacher will encourage you to put your thoughts on paper rather than in your head. By writing down your ideas, you’re making them more accessible to you. You’re also giving yourself a break from all that mental processing which can be difficult at times. It may not be the most exciting or glamorous of tasks, but it’s an excellent way to develop your confidence.

Helps with Focus

When you’re learning to write, you’ll notice that your instructor will frequently ask you to focus on certain parts of the assignment. After you’ve written those parts, you’ll have to go back and re-read what you’ve written. This serves as a good reminder to focus only on the task at hand and not to get distracted by other things. Before you knew it, the clock had struck noon and you hadn’t eaten since breakfast. Suddenly, you’re ravenous and want to grab a quick bite to eat. You might want to write down some ideas about what you’re learning and storing them in a special place in your mind. Later, when you read the material, the ideas will pop up and you’ll have to resist the temptation to chew on some gum or browse social media.

Creates Better Mental Note-Taking

When you’re taking notes during a lecture, you’ll typically write down what the professor is saying. However, when you write down your own thoughts and ideas, you’re not just limited to taking note of what the teacher is saying. You can write down everything you know about the subject and add it to your understanding. After you’ve written, you can revisit the information and see how you’ve grown and changed as a person since the last time you looked at it. Learning to write is a great way to enhance your learning experience and see things from a different perspective. It may not seem apparent, but simply taking notes and using them to remind you of what was said can help you retain what you’ve learned.

Allows for Later Review

When you’re completing an assignment or a test, you’ll have to find a way to remember everything you’ve learned. If you’ve learned to write, then you know that you can come back to what you’ve written at a later date and see everything you’ve learned clearly in your mind. While this may not seem like a major benefit, being able to review your work is important. Even if you understand what you’ve written, later on you may realize that you didn’t address certain issues or that you’ve mixed up a couple of things. Having everything down on paper allows you to go back and see everything clearly without any distractions or mental blocks. Simply write down everything you know and learn and you’ll be able to refer to it at any time in the future.

Allows for Creative Expression

In addition to helping you learn, writing also allows you to develop your creative side. One of the beautiful things about writing is that you’re not limited to the words that other people choose for you. If you’ve learned to write creatively, you’ll be able to come up with your own words and phrases to fit the situation you’re in. For example, if you’re writing an essay for school and you feel like you’re not expressing yourself clearly, you can come up with your own words to make your point. Your instructor will appreciate your efforts and maybe even agree with you that your essay could be expressed in a clearer manner. As another example, if you’re writing a letter to a friend and you want to express your love for them, you can do that too! Creative writing is a great way to build your confidence and show off your unique abilities.

More Engaging

One of the major benefits of writing is that it requires you to focus more. When you’re reading something which is engaging your full attention, your brain doesn’t have enough room for other things. When you write something down, your brain has more space and can focus on other things while still being able to come back to it at a later date. The more you write, the more you’ll understand. It may not seem like a major benefit, but simply focusing on writing can improve the quality of your learning experience. When your brain is fully engaged, you’re focused and understand what’s being said. In other words, you’re learning! Creative writing is a great way to improve your learning experience and make it more engaging.

Boosts Confidence

At the end of the day, confidence is key. If you feel confident that you can write well, you’ll communicate well whether you’re writing a letter, an essay, or an article. Writing is an excellent way to learn how to write and communicate clearly, and therefore boost your confidence. When you write something, even if it’s only a short story or an email, you’ll have to communicate with words and ideas, and that is invaluable. It may not seem like it, but simply taking out your thoughts on paper can help you feel more confident. Even if you don’t show it to anyone else, knowing that you can write gives you a sense of accomplishment which can only be good for your self-esteem.

If you’re looking for a way to learn and grow as a person, consider developing your writing skills now. It may not seem glamorous or exciting to write, but it can be an excellent way to gain confidence and be proud of your unique abilities.