Curriculum, learning and teaching
Journals – more than just a collection of entries Caroline Montigny argues the case for a traditional method If you take a look into an international language classroom, chances are you will see some type of technology in use which might include a projection screen, computer, or portable electronic device. However, there is one essential tool that should remain part of the modern classroom: a journal. The journal is a time-tested tool that provides a safe place for students to write. Within the pages, teachers might read about a family event, feelings, likes or dislikes. These entries provide an opportunity for teachers to learn about students as individuals and possibly a platform to start a conversation. One student wrote about enjoying her family vacation and Winter
Summer |
| 2018
how she was eager to sleep in her own bed again. However, she was dismayed to arrive home to disarray and a broken window. Her house had been burgled while she and her family were away. The journal entry continued with details about a previous break-in that happened a few months earlier. As her teacher, I talked with her about a variety of things including feeling safe at home and how she cannot help but worry when her family goes on future vacations. Another student wrote about homework and how he has difficulty some nights going to bed early. He has friends in a different country, where the time zone is seven hours ahead. When he is trying to go to bed, his friends are texting and
37
