Teaching EFL writing: Understanding and re-thinking the Thai experience

Abstract

Compared to other skills, writing is the most difficult skill to learn.Contemporary research
\ntheories on how to effectively teach EFL writing such as those of cognitivists and social constructionists based their approaches mainly on L1 writing.The cognitivists view writing
\nas an activity regulated in the mind of each individual as the person is writing particularly
\nthe activity which involves thinking and problem-solving process.The social constructionists
\non the other hand, claim that learning to write does not confine to just what is happening in
\nthe writer’ s state of mind, but social interaction is also a key to learn how to write
\nsuccessfully.To ensure that the teaching of EFL writing is going to the right direction, English teachers and educators must be aware of recent EFL writing theories and practices.One way to do this is to understand essential components of EFL writing instruction system.Because EFL writing theories were derived from theories on writing in L1 and writing by students in the West, the application of these theories in Asian contexts is yet to be explored particularly in Thai EFL contexts.This paper therefore, aimed to analyze the current practice of EFL writing in Thailand, difficulties encountered by English educators with some recommendations to boost effort to developing Thai students writing skills for national and
\nglobal benefits.