Journals – more than just a collection of entries, Caroline Montigny

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 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

wanting to talk. We spoke about sleep and talked about what he can do about the situation. After several days, the student told me that he now turns his phone off when he goes to bed because it is important for him to get some rest. While there are many more examples that can be shared, these two show that students are approachable and open to conversations with their teacher. While the journal can be a tool to generate conversation, it can also provide a place to practice writing to increase fluency and use new vocabulary.

When students keep their informal writing within the pages of a bound text, they themselves can see tangible evidence of their own progress. One student wrote ‘I think it [journal writing] has helped my English because it improves my grammar and vocabulary’. Another wrote ‘I can see the new vocabulary gradually’. Students can also reflect on how they have grown, from their viewpoints, to how sentence structure and vocabulary becomes more sophisticated over time. With continual practice, transfer into the everyday is also possible: ‘I often get new vocabulary and connect to my conversation’.

For journals to be successful, they must have a prominent place in a language classroom. There should be dedicated time given for students to write and teachers should consistently collect and peruse the pages. By reviewing students’ work, a teacher can also see what might need to be addressed from a grammatical point of view. While there should not be an expectation of perfect grammar and spelling, teachers can create mini-lessons to address inconsistencies that might come up from time to time: sentence structure, punctuation, and capital letters, to name just a few. Depending on the classroom, these needs can vary each year. Teachers can draw on many sources when a student does not know what to write about. Creating a database of ideas is ideal as students can access the information on their own and choose topics they wish to write about. One student wrote ‘I like to write according to funny topic’ and another ‘I can write about what I like’. This free choice creates ‘tuned in’ students and an opportunity for them to express themselves. While some prompts can be assigned by teachers, they should be balanced with free choice.

Some might argue that a computer journal is the way to go, but I have mostly positive experiences with journals, even with the most reluctant writers. Giving writing its proper due in today’s classroom is essential. Students should be given the time to learn to express themselves in a safe environment and to unplug from a world that is increasingly busy and, at times, overloaded with technology.

Caroline Montigny is EAL Department Chair and Mother Tongue Coordinator at the International School of Düsseldorf, Germany. Email: montignyc@isdedu.de