1 minute read
Journal Writing
This activity aims at encouraging students to write journals in order to enhance their writing ability. In these journals, students are supposed to write about any topic they are interested in, and the teacher should not focus on grammar correction unless the student requests it or if the mistakes interfere with comprehension. The goal of journal writing is to make students confident about writing freely. The teacher should explain the DIE (Describe/Interpret/Evaluate) process. This technique is a tool for making meaning and gaining understanding of input — anything students see, hear, or experience.
Preparation
Advertisement
The instructor asks the students to separate a notebook for this activity. Then he/she explains the DIE process: the teacher asks the students to write about an experience they have had that surprised, interested, puzzled, or annoyed them, being as objective as possible. The first time, they are expected just to describe the experience. Then they will respond to what they experienced, describing how they interpreted and evaluated the experience. They are supposed to combine these two parts by writing about what they think about this experience and how they feel about it. The topic of the journals should be chosen by the students.
When to Use It
• To give practice in extensive writing • To provide a way to communicate directly with the instructor • To encourage students to write freely
Level
Skills
Practice
Materials
Notebooks
Preparation Time
5–10 minutes
Activity Time
Depends on each student, but the deadline can be one week after the topic is assigned.
Procedure
1. Explain the DIE process and give an example to the students. 2. Have students think about a topic they are interested in. 3. Ask the students to take the notebook home and return it to you once a week. 4. Read the journals and give the students written feedback.
Variations
1. Depending on the level of the students, the instructor can give some suggestions on topics related to the lessons they are working on. 2. The instructor can change the format of the text, dealing with different genres.
