Step 1: Understand the essay topic in your native language. It doesn’t mean you need to write your essay in your language and then translate it to a foreign one. Avoid doing this because it is a significant mistake. Instead, try to depict the approximate story in your mind to transform it into text easily. Write questions and plan where you lack knowledge and what you need to clarify. Step 2: Research foreign-language sources. When students decide on the central questions concerning their topic, it is time to determine what others tell about it. Watch videos and read articles on a foreign language to expand both your knowledge and vocabulary. Note down all phrases and definitions unfamiliar to you to clarify them later on with the dictionary. Step 3: Work with the dictionary. As we mentioned earlier, it is essential to work with terminology and learn it with the help of a dictionary. Create a special workbook where you will write new words, phrases, and expressions. At this stage, it is excellent to have someone to whom you will show your notes. If this person knows a foreign language, they can support you in writing an essay by explaining tough aspects. Step 4: Outline the essay parts. When you have a general understanding of what to write about, you can start outlining. Form the hook, thesis statement, and key points in the essay introduction. Then move to the body, which consists of three paragraphs with evidence from your research. Conclude all previous points in the last section and let the reader feel your work’s value and completeness. Step 5: Format the essay. It is crucial to keep the essay’s format in mind, even if written in a foreign language. Try to consider heading positions, title page, your name, name of the course, subject, topic, and your tutor. In the entire text, work on citations and reference them in the list below the essay. Stick to one of the assigned formats. Usually, teachers give to follow MLA, APA, Chicago, or Harvard guidelines. Step 6: Edit your text. Editing could become your favorite stage of writing an essay in a foreign language. You can read and check your text for grammatical, punctuation, and spelling issues on your own or seek the help of online grammar checkers. For example, LanguageTool, which works as a Chrome extension, can easily improve English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and French content. Step 7: Work on simplicity. The main difference between speaking and writing in a foreign language is the number of words. While speaking, we can omit many unnecessary things because an interlocutor can understand us with non-verbal elements of communication. While writing, however, the author needs to be strict and concise, as it is vital to explain the subject in detail. When you want to describe something in your essay in a foreign language, it is better to use simple phrases that avoid misunderstandings between you and your reader. Consider these seven lucky steps to bring your foreign language skills to a new level!
