Through the Eyes of a Writer: A Journey of Learning, Discovering, and Transforming
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Through the Eyes of a Writer: A Journey of Learning, Discovering, and Transforming Entisar Elsherif Indiana University of Pennsylvania 2013 Twenty First Century Englishes
description
Abstract: My aim is to discuss how writing narratives and poetry in a second language helped me explore and understand my English language learning experiences, especially the role writing played in my life. I will read parts of my narrative and poetry and relate them to the existing literature about second language creative writing. The narrative and poems will present my experiences with plagiarism, writing poetry, taking tests during war, and how I wrote the whole narrative. Through these excerpts, I intend to show the significance of creative writing to second language writers in helping them understand their learning journey, discover what they have not thought of during the stages of learning, and transform as they become more confident second language writers.
Transcript of Through the Eyes of a Writer: A Journey of Learning, Discovering, and Transforming
Through the Eyes of a Writer: A Journey of Learning, Discovering, and
Transforming
Entisar ElsherifIndiana University of Pennsylvania
2013 Twenty First Century Englishes
how writing poetry and narratives in a second language helped me explore and understand my English language learning experiences:
Writing poetry in English Writing my story: the role writing played in my
life
Show the significance of creative
writing to second language writers
in helping them understand their
learning journey, discover what
they have not thought of during the
stages of learning, and transform as
they become more confident
second language writers through
my personal experience with
creative writing.
Writing Poetry in English Reading in English Writing journals Writing poetry Plagiarism Taking language
proficiency tests Taking tests during war
Write a PoemSmiling, he says “Write 10 poems”Perplexed.. Howled with pain What! Write a poem!Deep inside I could hear… Screams and cries I could feel… Earthquakes And burning firesHow on earth?
I couldn’t in Arabic!How come in English?Never read ones.. Never tried onceA voice from my youth urged… “Visualize”Thought about it.. Once.. Twice.. All the weekMatters were settled “Speak your mind” You might end up with a poem.
BirthBlank, white papers Daring me
Shivering,
I resort to my dictionary
Firmly,
I cling to my thesaurus
Looking for something
That’s hiding here or there
A thought,
a feeling,
a word,
an expression
My mind is busy
like a bank
Rhyme or not rhyme
Style or not style
Look up a word…
Make up a sentence
A shout from inside
resembles
The pain of labor
The excitement of delivery
There it goes…
The birth of my first poem
Trembling…
2 more poems Capturing the
Haunting Fear GRE, My Nightmare
Writing My Story Writing in Arabic Writing in Turkish Writing in English Writing journals Writing my MA thesis Writing poetry Taking language proficiency
tests/taking tests during war The Qualifying Portfolio Life Story Research
What’s the story of this story?
http://www.hltmag.co.uk/feb13/stud.htmhttp://www.hltmag.co.uk/apr13/stud.htmhttp://www.hltmag.co.uk/aug13/stud.htmhttp://www.hltmag.co.uk/oct13/stud.htm
My poems and narrative gave me:VoiceOwnership of my English languageDeeper understanding of the role of writing in my lifeBetter understanding of my capabilitiesSelf-esteem and encouragement
Why writing poetry? Writing poetry in L2 “should emphasize
self expression and… meaningful and personal language interaction.. When writing poetry, [L2 writers] should be encouraged to explore.. [a] new language [and discover varied ways] to express their experiences”
(Hanauer, 2004, p.57).
Why writing poetry? Writing poetry in L2 helps L2 writers to
“express their experiences, thoughts, and feelings.. [It also gives them the chance to express] complex ideas [by] using simple vocabulary and syntactic structures”
(Hanauer, 2004, p.76).
Why writing stories? “Life stories can help other people see
their lives more clearly or differently and perhaps be an inspiration to help them change something in their lives”
(Atkinson. 1998, p.2).
Why writing stories? “An individual life, and the role it plays in the larger
community, is best understood through story. We become fully aware, fully conscious, of our own lives through the process of putting them together in story form. It is through story that we gain context and recognize meaning. Reclaiming story is part of our birthright. Telling our story enables us to be heard, recognized, and acknowledged by others. Story makes the implicit explicit, the hidden seen, the unformed formed, and the consuming clear”
(Atkinson, 1998, p. 7).
Why writing stories? “writing that presents issues over which [we]
can connect, discuss, research, and establish some sort of affiliation”
(Hurlbert, 2012, p. 196).
References Atkinson, R. (1998). The life story interview.
Thousand Oaks: SAGE. Hanauer, D. (2004). Poetry and the meaning
of life. Toronto: Pippin. Hurlbert, C. (2012). National healing: Race,
state, and the teaching of composition. Boulder, CO: Utah University Press.
