Journaling Activities for English Language Learners

Write It Out

Journal It

At the beginning of the new year, we are actively looking to start something new. Motivation is high, the goal is ambitious, and we may have made a good plan. But how likely are we to stick to the plan? Maybe 50 per cent? I don’t know. But I do know when we also include a way to hold ourselves accountable, the success rate sky rockets. Hence, I would like to suggest some journaling activities that you can run to support your learners develop and maintain a new writing habit.

Why Journal?

The benefits of journaling for language learners are multiple, especially on a metacognitive level. For example, Lee (2011), found that regular journal writing had a positive effect on the writing abilities and attitudes of university-level EFL students. The students reported increased confidence in their writing and improved critical thinking skills. While Zhang (2009) specifically investigated the effects of journal writing on the fluency, complexity, and accuracy of L2 (second language) writing. The results showed that regular journal writing improved the writing skills of ESL students, and that it was an effective way to promote language learning and language use. Finally, Chen (2010) found that EFL students who engaged in regular journal writing showed improvement in their writing fluency, vocabulary use, and grammatical accuracy.

Journaling Activities for Beginners

My Day

Example: Today, I woke up at 7 o'clock. I brushed my teeth and took a shower. Then, I had breakfast with my family. We ate eggs and toast. After that, I went to school. I had five classes: math, science, history, English, and art. In the evening, I did my homework and watched TV with my family. I went to bed at 10 o'clock.

Instructions: Write about your daily routines, including sentences about when you wake up, eat breakfast, go to school or work, etc. Use simple vocabulary and grammar structures, such as present simple tense and common time expressions.

Authentic Material: "My Daily Routine: A Day in the Life of a Stay-at-Home Mom" posted on the ‘Live About’ website provides an example of a journal entry about one's daily routine. The author describes her typical day, including activities such as getting up early, making breakfast for her family, running errands, and spending time with her children. This is a a perfect model for your learners to follow.

https://www.liveabout.com/sample-day-life-of-sahm-3128974

https://www.todaysparent.com/family/day-in-life-of-stay-at-home-mom/

Journaling Activities for Intermediates

Describing Emotions

Example: Yesterday, I went to the park with my friends. We played basketball and had a great time. However, on the way back, I saw a homeless man who was crying. I felt sad and helpless. I wished I could do something to help him, but I didn't know what to do. I felt guilty for enjoying my time at the park while someone was suffering. The experience made me appreciate what I have and made me think about how lucky I am.

Instructions: Ask students to reflect on a recent experience that elicited a strong emotional response, and describe the emotions they felt in detail. Encourage them to use descriptive adjectives and adverbs, as well as linking words to connect their thoughts and feelings. Use the authentic text to discover words and phrases to include in their own writing.

Authentic Material: The personal essay "What Losing My Father Taught Me About Parenting, Planets and Pain" on the website "The New York Times" describes the author's feelings after the loss of a loved one. The author reflects on the emotions she experienced, such as sadness, anger, and confusion, and how these emotions have impacted her life.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/30/well/family/pain-grief-father.html

Journaling Activities for Advanced Learners

What’s Your Opinion?

Example: In my opinion, social media has both positive and negative effects on our lives. On one hand, it allows us to connect with people from all over the world and stay updated on current events. On the other hand, it can also be harmful because it can cause people to become addicted and spend too much time online. Additionally, social media can spread false information and create a negative impact on mental health. Overall, I think that while social media has its benefits, it's important to use it in moderation and be mindful of the effects it can have on our lives.

Instructions: Write about a current social or political issue, expressing your opinions and reasons for your beliefs. Use a variety of structures, such as conditionals and modal verbs, to make the writing more complex and nuanced. This activity can also include a debate component, where students engage in respectful discussion and defend their viewpoints.

Authentic Material: A blog post titled “I get better sleep': the people who quit social media” on the website "The Guardian" provides an example of an opinion writing activity. The author reflects on their decision to quit social media and expresses their opinion on the effects of social media on their life and mental health. They discuss the pros and cons of social media and provide a personal perspective on the topic.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/feb/10/people-who-quit-social-media

Resources

Chen, W. (2010). The effects of journal writing on English as a foreign language (EFL) learners' writing ability. Journal of Education and Practice, 1(2), 61-66.

Lee, I. (2011) The effects of journal writing on foreign language writing abilities and attitudes of university students. System, 39(3), 379-391.

Zhang, L. (2009). The effects of journal writing on fluency, complexity and accuracy in L2 writing. Journal of Second Language Writing, 18(2), 91-109.

Photo by Jessica Delp on Unsplash