Journal Writing in the EFL Classroom of Nepal

Abstract

Based on classroom research, this paper explores the use of journal writing as a multi-purpose tool in the English as a foreign language (EFL) classroom of Nepal. In the first part of the paper, the author introduces readers to the concepts of journal writing and also shares his own experience of writing reflective journals as a university student. This section also explains how he applied the same task among children in the classroom. The second part of the paper discusses the opportunities and challenges of using journal writing in the EFL classroom. The results suggest that journal writing can serve multiple purposes in the English language classroom. It is found to be an effective technique to make students reflect on what they have learnt and enhance their writing skill as well.

Writing as a Skill of Learning English in Bangladesh Education System Perspective

“…Md., et al, 2020. The idea of writing seems to be congruent with the expressivity approach, which views that writing can be developed through activities engaging in reflection, expression, and discovery (Thomas, 2017, Gyanendra, 2017, and Islam, S. Md., et al, 2020.…”

“…Writing gives many opportunities to the students to develop their skills in English regularly without any fear. Writing can be taken "both as means and an end" (Ur, 1991) of writing as it serves the dual purposes of writing "writing for writing" and "writing for learning" (Harmer, 2007, Gyanendra, 2017, and Islam, S. Md., et al, 2020.…”

“…Md., et al, 2020. Writing is a dialogue with oneself where students give voice to their activities, experiences, observations, events, and learning (Gyanendra, 2017 andS. Md., et al, 2020).…”

“…Gyanendra (2017) stated that writing practice in an English language classroom could contribute to improving student's writing skills for the sake of writing, expressing, learning, and being reflective in the language classroom. Writing practice was explored as a significant tool for developing writing skills in writing courses (Heath, 1988 andGyanendra, 2017). Educational institutions now give importance to English writing skills, and in Bangladesh English is a compulsory subject at the secondary and higher secondary level.…”

Dialogue Journal Writing in Emergency Remote Teaching: Effect on Writing Competency and Students’ Perception towards Implementation

“…Larrotta (2008) states that the dialogue journal can be an alternative for teachers to talk and comment students' work while the classroom time is very limited. Journal writing, also known as journalism, diary writing, and reflective journal, is a means of recording daily activities, learning, and feeling through writing (Yadav, 2017). Denne-Bolton (2013) defines journal writing as a written conversation between a teacher and students on a particular topic, including reactions and reflections on what they have been reading and hearing.…”