All great writers express their ideas in an individual way: it is often possible to determine the authorship of a literary passage from the style in which it is written; 46){{U}}Many authors feel that the conventions of the written language hamper them and they use words freely, with little observance of accepted grammar and sentence structure, in order to convey vividly their feelings, beliefs and fantasies.{{/U}} Others with a deep respect for traditional usage achieve a style of classical clearness and perfection or achieve effects of visual or musical beauty by their mastery of existing forms enriched by a sensitive and adventurous vocabulary, vivid imagery and a blending of evocative vowels and consonants.
Young people often feel the need to experiment and, as a result, to break away from the traditions they have been taught. In dealing with a foreign language, however, they have to bear in mind two conditions for experiment. 47){{U}}Any great experimental artist is fully familiar with the conventions from which he wishes to break free: he is capable of achievement in established forms but feels these are inadequate for the expression of his ideas.{{/U}} In the second place, he is indisputably an outstanding artist who has something original to express; otherwise the experiments will appear pretentious, even childish.
Few students can achieve so intimate an understanding of a foreign language that they can explore its resources freely and experimentally. Not all feel the need to do so. 48){{U}}And in any case examination candidates need to become thoroughly acquainted with conventional usage as it is a sure knowledge of accepted forms that examiners look for.{{/U}}
The student undertaking a Proficiency course should have the ability to use simple English correctly to express everyday facts and ideas. 49){{U}}This ability to express oneself in a foreign language on a basis of thinking in that language without reference to one's own is essential at all stages of learning.{{/U}} Students with extensive experience in translation who have had little practice in using the foreign language directly must, above all, write very simply at first, using only easy constructions which they are convinced are correct, forgetting for the time being their own language and rigorously avoiding translating from it.
More complex forms, more varied vocabulary and sentence structure should evolve naturally in step with the student's increasing knowledge of the language. The student introduces a certain form of construction only when he is thoroughly familiar with it and is certain that it is normally used in this way. As he achieves additional confidence, he can begin to take an interest in use of the language to create diverse effects. He may want to convey impressions of suspense, calm, dignity, humor, of music or poetry. 50){{U}} He will master the art of logical explanation, of exact letter writing, of formal speeches and natural conversation and of vivid impressionistic description.{{/U}} But he will still write within the limits of his ability and knowledge. And, as a learner, he will still be studying and observing conventional English usage in all that he writes.