Writing letters is a great hobby with many benefits. Aside from getting the chance to connect with people who are far away, you can also receive exciting mail. Most of the time, when people open their mailboxes, all they see are bills and ads. When you have a pen pal, however, you occasionally get to pull out a sleek, handwritten envelope. Along with the thrill of receiving a regular correspondence, writing letters can also improve your language skills.
Improve spelling
Typing a message on the computer allows you to automatically check your spelling and grammar. This feature is not available when you’re writing a note by hand, so you’re forced to pay more attention to the words you’re using. If you’re not sure how something is spelled, look it up! You’ll eventually realize which words you frequently misspell and start fixing the errors.
Enhance vocabulary
Learn new words by working them into your messages. Having an extensive vocabulary will be useful throughout your whole life, so expand your lexicon through letters. You can also get your writing partner involved in your efforts by encouraging him or her to work new words into the messages. Reading these words will also help you remember them more in the future, so you can use them in your reply letter.
Practice a foreign language
If you’ve been trying to learn a new language but don’t have anyone to practice with, seek out a foreign pen pal. Exchanging letters with someone from a different country is an fun way to practice the language you’re trying to learn. The reading material will be more interesting because it’s authentic, and you can also learn a little bit about the culture. When composing your responses, try your best to use proper grammar and wording. You could even ask your pen pal to inform you if you’re making any common mistakes.
Strengthen handwriting
The use of so much technology has reduced the need for messages that are written by hand. This has caused many people’s handwriting to suffer because it’s a skill that needs to be used so it doesn’t become sloppy. Composing letters to a pen pal allows you to practice your handwriting and work on your letter forms so the motions don’t get rusty. If you want to get really fancy, you could also try learning a new skill, like calligraphy, for impressive longhand writing.
Show personality
Your handwriting says a lot about you, which is why so many people love to receive cards from friends and loved ones. It’s a personal touch that can’t be replicated. Sending someone an actual letter also shows how much you care for a person. Typing an email is faster, but writing a note by hand takes effort and time, which has more meaning. To give your message even more character, try using personalized stationery that shows off your style.
The next time you’re thinking of contacting someone, consider using a letter instead of technology. You’ll get the chance to improve your language skills, and you can show that person how special he or she really is to you.