Essay Examples & Writing Tips for ESL/EFL Students (updated 2024)
In this lesson you will find simple essay examples for ESL, EFL and university students. Additional writing tips also show how to write a proper essay with minimal mistakes.
Writing essays is a powerful way to improve your language skills and express your thoughts. In our article, “Essay Examples for ESL/EFL Students,” we embark on a journey through the world of essays, offering you valuable examples and insights to help you gain confidence in your English writing abilities.
Essay Examples and Tips For ESL Students
SAMPLE ESSAY 1. My Hobby
My favorite hobby is playing drums. I spend a lot of my free time playing drums. I started learning to play drums when I was 9 years old. I played in my school’s band. When I was 12, I got a private drum teacher and started to really enjoy playing.
My parents bought me a drum set and I started practicing every day after school. It was very loud, but my mother never complained. I improved a lot, and playing drums has been my favorite hobby ever since.
Now, I play drums in a band with my friend Dan, who plays guitar. We write songs, perform, and practice twice a week. It’s still as fun as it was when I first started playing!
Answer these questions in your essay:
What is your hobby?
When did you start doing this hobby?
Why do you like doing this hobby?
How did you learn this hobby?
When do you usually do this hobby?
How often do you do this hobby?(every day, one a week, twice a month, on weekends, etc.)
Use this sentence pattern in your essay: start/stop verb+ing
I started playing basketball when I was 5 years old.
I started reading novels when I was very young
Sentence pattern: verb+ing
When you put a verb after start, begin, stop, finish, or quit, you must add “‐ing”
Examples:
I started studying English in 3rd grade.
I finished writing my homework at 11:00 last night.
My father quit smoking because it is unhealthy.
We began dating when we met last year.
Check Also:
Essay Writing Tips & How to Avoid Typical Mistakes
Short Essay Examples for ESL Students
20 Useful Vocabulary & Phrases to Start Your Essay
Argumentative Essay Topics With Points for Students
SAMPLE ESSAY 2. My Favorite Place
Usually when you ask people what their favorite place is, they will talk about a distant place – maybe a beach or a beautiful mountain. But my favorite place is not far away at all. My favorite place is the forest behind my house.
Although the forest behind my house is not very big, when I was little I thought it was huge! There are so many interesting places to play and hide. I can sit on the big rocks and have a picnic, I can climb the tall trees, or I can look for lizards and other little animals.
Even though I have played there many times, I can still spend all afternoon running, playing, and hiking in the forest behind my house.
The forest behind my house is a magical place. If I am in a bad mood, I will go there to be alone and think. When I was little, I liked to imagine that there were magical people who lived in the forest. When I grow up and have children, I hope that they can live near such a special place, too.
Sentence pattern: (not) …at all
“at all” means “not even a little”, and you usually put it at the end of a negative sentence (a sentence with “not”).
Example:
Brian: Are you hungry:
Dave: I just ate dinner. I’m not hungry at all.
Check Also:
Essay Writing Tips & How to Avoid Typical Mistakes ✅
Useful Academic Expressions & Phrases For Essay Writing
SAMPLE ESSAY 3. My Best Friend
A best friend is a person you can count on, someone who will always be there to put a smile on your face when you need it. This is why I call Nathan my best friend.
I first met Nathan in second grade. His family just moved here from another town and he didn’t have any friends. We started talking, and one day I went to his house to play video games. Soon, we were hanging out every day, and we stayed at each other’s houses on the weekends.
Nathan and I have a lot in common. We both like jokes, and we both love to play soccer. In summer, we go to the swimming pool and eat ice cream cones. Next year, we are going to learn to play tennis together.
Best of all, I can tell Nathan my secrets, and I know he won’t tell anyone. I call him my best friend because I trust him, because he is a lot of fun, and because we like the same things. I hope our friendship lasts forever!
Sentence pattern: [Subject] lasts [amount of time]
Use this to describe how long something is (how long it “lasts”)
Examples:
That is a long movie. It lasts almost 3 hours.
Summer vacation lasts about 2 months.
The cell phone battery lasts about 1 year. After 1 year, you will need to buy a new one.
When my girlfriend broke up with me, she said, “Nothing lasts forever.”
SAMPLE ESSAY 4. Trip to the Zoo
Going to the zoo is a fun and interesting way to spend a day. The last time I went to the zoo was two months ago, during summer vacation. I went with my mother, father, and sister, and it was a trip that I will never forget.
We saw all kinds of animals at the zoo. We saw monkeys, snakes, and even a lion! In addition, there were birds, lizards, and several different kinds of fish. We got to see an eel, and octopus, and a small shark. My favorite animal was the elephant. It was so huge! We fed the elephants peanuts, and it sprayed us with water!
Although the zoo is very exciting, sometimes it makes me sad to see all the animals in cages. They cannot walk, run, or fly freely. However, it is good that people can go to the zoo and learn about these animals. Therefore, I’m glad we have such a nice zoo in my city
Essay Writing Tips For ESL students:
Writing essays might seem tricky, but with a few simple tips, you can make it easier and better. Especially if English is not your first language, here are some straightforward suggestions:
- Start with a Plan: Before you begin writing, take a moment to think about your main ideas. Make a simple outline with your introduction, main points, and conclusion. It’s like making a roadmap for your essay.
- Use Simple Words: Don’t try to impress with big words. It’s better to use words you know well. Simple words can be just as effective and make your writing clearer.
- One Idea per Paragraph: Each paragraph should talk about one main idea. This makes your essay organized and easy to follow. Start a new paragraph when you move to a new topic.
- Check for Mistakes: After you finish writing, go back and check for mistakes. Look for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. It’s a small step, but it makes a big difference.
- Connect Your Ideas: Use words like “but,” “and,” and “so” to connect your ideas. This helps your writing flow smoothly. Remember to put a comma after these words at the beginning of a sentence.
- Read Out Loud: After you’ve written your essay, read it out loud. This helps you catch mistakes and see if your sentences sound right.
- Keep It Simple: Stick to the point. Don’t make your sentences too long or complicated. It’s better to have short, clear sentences.
