Activity Name:
Student Journals
Number of Participants:
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Any (although smaller numbers are
often more manageable)
Optimal number: 3 to 10 really
dedicated students
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How-to:
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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.
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Benefits:
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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.
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Different Uses:
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Practice formal compositions and their
construction
Increase vocabulary by assigning new
words to use
Give writing prompts that they must
respond to
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Materials Needed:
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Journals
Paper, glue, stickers and markers to
personalize and decorate
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| Examples of (personalized) Student Journals |