Thoughts on Online ESL Writing Courses?

by Ray Abraham

Posted: 13 years ago 7 replies

PRODUCT REVIEWS

Hi Warriors,

Eric Louviere has again and again stressed that the one skill
a marketer should spend the most time in is copywriting.

I'm thinking of taking an ESL course first before engaging in
copywriting materials, since English is not my first language.
I've searched locally but it's hard to find an ESL writing course
here (they don't have such plans because the demand is low).

So, I went online and found some good courses such as:
- Essentials of Writing at EnglishOnline.Net: Course Description and Schedule ($89)
- Online Course: ESL Basic Writing Skills - Instructor Led Class and Certification ($65)
- ESL Writing Course - $129.99 - ESL Training ($129.99)

Has any of you involved in online ESL writing course? What's your
experience? Which one do you think is the best course to take?

I sincerely apologize if this is not the correct section to ask.

Thanks a lot,
Ray

#courses #esl #online #thoughts #writing

Ralf Skirr 13 years ago

I don't know about those courses, but here's a great resource I bought a few weeks ago:
Amazon.com: CliffsNotes Writing: Grammar, Usage,... not an aff link.
Ralf
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tpw 13 years ago

Product Reviews is probably the better place to ask.

But I tend to think that so long as the course is written by a true ESL professional, then you likely will not go wrong with it.
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Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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tpw 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Chris Kent

Your English is pretty damn good already.

I'd go with what you already have and just get help to check your grammar.

Good point. And you can hire an editor to mop up your grammatical mistakes.
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Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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- Gail_Curran 13 years ago
  
  Considering your current English skills, you might be too advanced for many of these courses and not get much out of them. Instead, buy a good book on English grammar and usage - and read it. Then focus on learning copywriting techniques rather than worrying too much about your English. Find an editor to fix your grammatical mistakes (and preferably explain where you went wrong, so you can learn).
  
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  Ray Abraham 13 years ago
  
  Thanks all for the feedback and confidence. Appreciate 'em a lot
  
  Thing is, while I can write practically error-free (or maybe a little),
  I can't get the ideas flowing pretty well... especially in a longer form
  of writing --like a sales copy.
  
  I remember few years back I was asking for copy critique on this forum
  and the legend Ray Edwards himself came pointing this out to me.
  He said that the copy "needs a serious rewrite". because "the language
  reads like an ESL writer".
  
  Coming from him, I was convinced that copywriting isn't for everyone...
  
  Only until recently Eric's program gave me a second thought on this
  and encouraged me to go for it (by taking ESL Writing course first ).
  
  Thanks
  
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B.Smit 13 years ago

I would say compile a collection of good sales copy examples - long-form sales letters and other forms of sales copy, then read them through a number of times. Also try reading them out loud, again a number of times. That should start training your brain to think in ways that would make it easier for you to write sales copy.

I agree with another poster that you might find EFL/ESL material either boring, or simply not right for your needs.
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â€œ... at the root of human nature is the need for free creative work under one's own control.â€ ~ Noam Chomsky
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