This paper is conducted to shed the light on English language problems Libyan undergraduate students face in short story through creative interpretation in reading and writing. Creative writing is a wide range of literature and it deals not only with language but also with the wide imagination of writers. However, it is well known that if language problems increase, then even the imagination cannot help because writing techniques and creativity go on the same path. It has always been a great help for the writers to organize and deliver their writing in a suitable form. Most Libyan students cannot, they have many problems in composing, therefore; when they are asked to conduct a creative writing task, they find it enormously difficult and challenging. Those who have the ability to produce are the talented and skillful ones. In this paper, the aim is to encourage and motivate Libyan students to be effected to creative reading and writing as well as grow their skills and talents. Furthermore, this paper will deal with language problems in reading and writing that are mostly common in all levels of learners, and it will focus mostly on the scope of short story. In addition, the purpose of this paper is to provide ideas, suggestions, and solutions according to the problems that are encountered throughout this study. Reading this paper, will help Libyan EFL teachers realize that creative writing is a talent or a skill that has to be practiced; therefore, we will provide ideas to help teachers avoid favoring students who have the talents and skills in reading and writing over others by treating them equally, helping them grow their ability in being creative. There are some important elements that will be discussed throughout this study and the most elements of all is for Libyan EFL teachers and students to understand that there is a significant relationship between what the learner writes and what he/she reads which is called creative reading. In this paper we will present how the reading skill is also neglected by Libyan students. Students do not read for interest unless they are forced to do so for different reasons. Reading skill is not practiced by Libyan students even in their first language. Unfortunately, Libya is a culture that does not encourage, support, facilitate and provide for reading. Therefore, in this paper, the aim is also to help Libyan students learn that reading someone's piece of work is an essential step for developing the skill of creative writing and that provides the history or background about the expected text, even an imagination for an inspired story. Furthermore, providing this paper is to help Libyan students believe that the more the learner reads, the more he/she writes and creates. We would like students to believe that inspiration and imagination are the path for a readable and meaningful story which leads the writer to creativity. And, we believe that if EFL teachers find a way to provide creativity, students will gain the knowledge needed to write and read creatively.
On Reading and Writing: an Interview with Larissa Lai
