What do you think is harder , reading or writing ?   Well , they ’ re completely different . Reading is passive , and writing is active .   I don ’ t think I understand what you mean . Could you explain a little more ?   In reading you need to recognize language by seeing the words on the page and knowing what they are . In writing you have to produce language , you have to create your own words on a blank page .   Oh , now I see what you mean . When you ’ re reading , you are just looking , but when you are writing , you are actually doing something !   A reading knowledge of a language is larger and different from a writing knowledge . Don ’ t you think so ?   I think I see what you mean . I can read Shakespeare but I definitely can ’ t write it .   Exactly .   So I have another question for you . What do you think is harder , speaking or understanding ? 