They don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care

Activity Name: Student Journals

Number of Participants:	Any (although smaller numbers are often more manageable)  Optimal number: 3 to 10 really dedicated students
How-to:	Student journaling is very simple and effective, but you must be committed to it. Students must receive prompt, in-depth feedback for the interest in journaling to last. In my TEFL classroom (or ESL, as well) I use student journaling to hold informal, written “conversations” that will help students to learn a more functional, communicative English. Through trying to communicate their ideas, students more easily identify where there are holes in their language learning, and will begin rectify those holes. Click here for more information or ideas!
Benefits:	Practice English in a ‘real-life’ context rather than simply academic English.   Students receive feedback in a written form that they can refer to in the future.   Students identify words/concepts they are unable to communicate and will ‘teach’ themselves in order to be able to communicate. (In this way, the journal can act as a sort of dictionary, too!)   Students are motivated by a teacher who cares about them and is interested in their lives.
Different Uses:	Practice formal compositions and their construction Increase vocabulary by assigning new words to use Give writing prompts that they must respond to
Materials Needed:	Journals Paper, glue, stickers and markers to personalize and decorate

 

Examples of (personalized) Student Journals