Write The world

My latest Podcast, “Wide Angle” features three writers in Sri Lanka.

/ Angelo Fernando / Leave a comment

Spending time in Sri Lanka helped me reconnect with many of my friends in advertising, media and journalism. On this podcast, you will hear about writers I met during a recent visit to Sri Lanka. (Click on the album cover to listen.)

I was fortunate to be able to attend the Gratiaen Awards in June because my friend, Lal Medawattegedara’s book, “When Ghosts Die” was shortlisted for an Award. It was inspiring to see how book publishing and authors have evolved, despite the constant complaints that “nobody reads anymore!”

Hear from these two authors:

  • Tyron Devotta, a former journalist is about to publish a book set during World War 2 in Ceylon. He talks about the role of the writer in a time when the audience’s reding habits are changing.
  • Shannel Pinidiya, still a student, talks about the construction of her complex novel, and how she got into historical fiction writer at an early age.

I also like to promote two organization.

  • First Story, a London based outfit partners with schools to nurture young writers.
  • Write The World, based in the US, is an organization I support. My students to participate in their projects.
  • The Gratiaen Trust organizes workshops for writers and editors, has outreach programs, and holds an annual book awards.

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SHOW NOTES

  1. 1. The Gratiaen Awards, Sri Lanka: ⁠https://www.gratiaen.com⁠
  2. Tyron Devotta – ⁠http://www.media360.lk⁠
  3. Shannel Pinidiya – “Dear Leo” (2024) ⁠Dear Leo – Jam Fruit Tree Publications⁠
  4. Lal Medawattegedara – ⁠Open University of Sri Lanka.⁠
  1. Radio 201 – Angelo Fernando – ⁠Radio 201 Podcasts⁠
  2. First Story, UK – ⁠FirstStory.org.UK⁠
  3. Write The World, US – ⁠WriteTheWorld.Org

Evidence that student writing (about chapatis and chickens) isn’t going obsolete

/ Angelo Fernando / Leave a comment

One of my passions is to help students become better writers. Many teachers will tell you that students are not writing enough. Anecdotally we know that information consumption (coupled with information overload) compounds the problem. Research supports this. Forty percent of college students who took the ACT writing test, lacked college ready skills.

As a computer and tech teacher, I am pleasantly surprised when students ask for scratch paper before they login. It’s not ‘old school’ to jot down ideas; to organize information before it gets into a brochure or PowerPoint. One of my lessons for 5th grade at the end of the school year involves teaching them how to write a radio script, and record it! A script, of course, isn’t like an essay. It gives a student an opportunity to adopt tone of voice that comes naturally. To speak from the heart. To talk about odd, personal, funny things that connect with the listener. Like a letter, I suppose. “Who writes those?” You ask! You’d be surprised how many Thank You letters are queued up to print next week. That’s my evidence, and I’m sticking to it! 

On that note, here’s some inspiring  student writing. One of the college application essays featured in the New York Times last week. Eric Muthondu, who’s entering Harvard, talks about his Kenyan grandmother.

“When I return, the chapatis are neatly stacked on one another, golden-brown disks of sweet bread that are the completion of every Kenyan meal.”

Or this piece of writing by Jeffrey C. Yu, a second generation Chinese American.

“Not all sons of doctors raise baby ducks and chickens in their kitchen. But I do. My dad taught me.”

These essays are worth a read, if only to recognize that good student writing exists –in certain places one has to dig to find. Here’s another place: Write The World. A global community for student writers I have been in touch with, and have covered in a previous post. By some coincidence, this month, Write The World has a Food Writing contest for students. First prize for a 6,000-10,000-word essay is $100.

More chapatis and chicken, please!