Creative writing exercises for English language learners

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Reading time: 3.5 minutes

Engaging in creative writing is one effective way to improve your English language skills. It allows for artistic expression and personal flair, making it a unique way to put your imagination into words. Additionally, creative writing can draw from the author’s life and experiences, providing a personal touch to the narrative. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, creative writing can help you enhance your vocabulary, grammar and overall language proficiency.

Creative writing exercises can also benefit other forms of writing, such as business writing and technical writing, even though these are not typically considered creative writing. In this post, we’ll explore various creative writing exercises that are designed to make learning English fun and engaging, as well as improve writing skills.

Creative writing exercises to help your English skills
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Exercise 1: Picture prompts

Using images as prompts for writing can spark your imagination, aid in character development, and help you come up with interesting stories.

  1. Choose an image that interests you.
  2. Look at the picture carefully and note down what you see.
  3. Write a story based on the image.

Example

A picture of a peaceful beach.

Prompt: What happens when a message in a bottle washes ashore?

Exercise 2: Short stories and story starters

Story starters are sentences or phrases that help kick-start your fiction writing and develop your storytelling skills.

  1. Choose a story starter from the list below.
  2. Continue the story from where the starter leaves off. Free writing can be a great method to let your imagination run wild and get the creative juices flowing.
  3. Be creative and develop the plot, characters and setting.

Example

  • “It was a dark and stormy night when…”
  • “She couldn’t believe what she saw when she opened the door…”
  • “The old man had a mysterious look in his eyes as he handed over the ancient book…”

Exercise 3: Dialogue creation

Creating dialogues between characters is a common practice among creative writers, which can improve your conversational skills and help you understand the nuances of spoken English.

  1. Think of two characters and a situation where they might interact.
  2. Write a dialogue between the characters, focusing on making it as natural as possible.
  3. These exercises can teach students to write better dialogues.
  4. Practice reading the dialogue out loud to improve your speaking skills.

Example

Prompt: Two friends discussing their plans for the weekend.

  • Friend 1: “What are you up to this weekend?”
  • Friend 2: “I’m thinking of going hiking. Want to join?”

Exercise 4: Collaborative storytelling

Collaborative storytelling involves writing a story with others, which can be a fun and interactive way to practice English.

It can also be used to create personal essays that reflect shared experiences.

  1. Gather a group of friends or classmates.
  2. Start a story with one sentence, then pass it along to the next person to continue.
  3. Keep passing the story around until everyone has contributed, then read the final story together.

Example

First sentence: "Once upon a time, in a small village surrounded by mountains, there lived a curious cat named Whiskers."

Exercise 5: Rewrite the ending

Rewriting the ending of a familiar story, including those in creative nonfiction, can help you think creatively and explore different possibilities.

  1. Choose a story you know well.
  2. Read the original ending and think about how you could change it.
  3. Write a new ending for the story, making it as imaginative as you like.

Example

Original story: "Cinderella".

New ending prompt: What if Cinderella decided not to marry the prince and instead pursued her dream of becoming a world-renowned chef?

Keep working on and improving your writing skills

These creative writing exercises offer a fun and effective way to improve your English language skills. By regularly practicing these exercises, you’ll enhance your vocabulary, grammar and overall proficiency while boosting your confidence in using English. Utilizing various writing tools, such as resources, guides and courses, can significantly improve your writing techniques.

So, don’t be afraid to let your imagination run wild and use these exercises as a tool for self-expression and language development. Remember, the more you practice, the better you will become at creative writing in English. Keep exploring new ideas and techniques to improve your writing skills, because there is always room for growth and improvement.

Read our blog post 'How novel writing can help your English skills'.

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    Discussion points for English language learners on United Nations topics

    By Sam Colley
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    Navigating global issues: United Nations topics to spark discussion for English language learners

    The United Nations (UN) is an international organization founded in 1945, committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights. For English language learners, discussing the key issues addressed by the UN can be an enriching exercise that enhances both language skills and global awareness. For United Nations day on 24th October why not use some of the discussion points in this blog to spark meaningful conversations and deepen understanding of these critical topics.

    Climate change and environmental sustainability

    Climate change affects every corner of the planet. The UN has been actively working to mitigate its effects and promote sustainability. Here are some prompts to spark a conversation on this urgent issue:

    Key points to discuss:

    The impact of climate change: How does climate change affect different parts of the world? Discuss rising sea levels, extreme weather events and their consequences.
    Sustainable practices: What are some sustainable practices individuals and communities can adopt to combat climate change? Consider renewable energy, recycling and conservation efforts.
    Global cooperation: How important is international cooperation in addressing climate change? Look at agreements like the Paris Accord and the role of the UN in facilitating these agreements.

    Discussion questions:

    • How has climate change affected your country or region?
    • What can individuals do to reduce their carbon footprint?
    • Why is it important for countries to work together to tackle environmental issues?

    Global health and well-being

    Global health and well-being are vital for sustainable development and international cooperation, underpinning the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Here are some ideas to start conversations around this topic:

    Key points to discuss:

    Health crises: Discuss major health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of the World Health Organization (WHO) in managing these crises.
    Access to healthcare: What are the challenges to accessing healthcare in different parts of the world? Explore issues like healthcare infrastructure, affordability and availability.
    Mental health: Why is mental health an important aspect of overall well-being? Discuss stigma, access to mental health services and the impact of mental health on communities.

    Discussion questions:

    • How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we think about global health?
    • What are the biggest healthcare challenges in your country?
    • How can we improve mental health awareness and support?