Teaching Writing to Saudi EFL Students: Theory, Practice and Reflection

Abstract

This paper looks at the situation of EFL/ESL writing in the Saudi context. It accounts for some of the current challenges in teaching English writing to Saudi students and proposes an alternative, task-based approach that should address many of the shortcomings of the current practices. The paper acknowledges that writing is the most difficult language skill among standardised English proficiency test takers in general and among Saudi students in particular. The paper recommends a more practical approach when teaching English writing, one that works outside the classroom as well.