Eli Hinkel, a professor at Seattle Pacific University, says that English learners need to learn to recognize patterns in the English language.

These patterns, she says, are actually phrases -- terms or expressions that relate to speaking and writing.

So, what exactly are these phrases? Here is a real-life example. The author of this story sent an email requesting a time to speak with Hinkel.

The email was similar to this one:"Hi, Dr. Hinkel,
"My name is John Russell, and I work for the Learning English Division of Voice of America … Are you available for an interview sometime in the next two weeks? We're looking for advice from education experts, and your input would be greatly appreciated."

Hinkel gave examples of important phrases in the email: "Hi! My name is something and something. I work for VOA. Are you available …? We're looking for …."
"You did not come and say 'Hey! I saw you speak ... Give me an interview."

The important pattern-like phrases that she spoke about are the phrases "Hi! My name is…," "I work for…," "Are you available …?" and "We're looking for …"

These expressions are considered polite ways, in American English, to introduce yourself or to ask another person for something. These phrases are socially acceptable and grammatically correct.

Building a large set of socially acceptable and grammatically correct phrases can make the language learning process easier, says Hinkel.

Anna Uhl Chamot also has studied learning strategies. She advises learners to look for patterns as they learn a language. Chamot calls this strategy "Finding and Applying Patterns."

Eli Hinkel says English academic writing, in particular, uses patterns more often than writing in other European languages.

"So, French article writing is not formulaic, German is not formulaic, in general, Central and Eastern Europeans don't do formulae. So, it (the English language) is highly formulaic in practically every way -- not just the structure, but also the mode of expression."

Hinkel adds that English academic articles often begin with a statement of purpose and then uses common patterns throughout.

She gave an example of common and important phrases for introducing a topic and giving a summary in academic writing:

"This paper will discuss X, Y, and Z. First, it will consider A, B, and C, then it will also take a look at blah-blah-blah, and in conclusion, the paper will explain B, C and D. So, in general, these formulae are something that most learners don't notice."

The important phrases that learners don't often notice include the following: "First, it will consider …," "then it will take a look at …," and "in conclusion, the paper will explain …"

There are many other common phrases in academic writing. For example, you will often see statements such as "I claim that …," which is a common way to make an assertion, or "One suggestion is that ..., " which is a common phrase for making a recommendation.

Future education stories will discuss more common phrases in academic writing.

One common problem for English learners is that they often do their writing assignments without a clear goal in mind.

For example, Hinkel says, when learners write personal narratives they may choose their subject with little planning.

“So, they (English learners) just simply say 'Alright, I'm going to write about my memory from childhood. And it was about my greatest grandfather in the world. And I love him, and he has been long dead.' "

She adds that English learners can improve their writing by planning what they want to write:

"So, my first and first and first and second and third and fourth tip: Whatever it is that learners are writing -- personal memory, scientific article, or a write-up of an interview like this one -- follow the pattern…

"So, that requires three things: "First, identify similar genre.

"Second, analyze the stinking thing to death, until you can identify this pattern. And then follow the yellow brick road."

In other words, learners should choose stories, identify patterns in the stories, and then use the patterns that they find in their own writing.