Thank you, SadieCat! Yes, grammar/spelling tools and AI can be very helpful here, especially before you have a tutor. I would write the entry first without stopping to correct every sentence, then ask AI to correct it, explain the main mistakes, and show a more natural version. You can even ask it to keep your original meaning and level rather than rewriting everything in advanced language. Keep your voice intact.
I would not correct every single journal entry, though. Sometimes the purpose is simply to write and express yourself. And please do not wait until you can write well. Several imperfect sentences are already amazing practice ☺️ Best wishes
As I am learning German and at B2.. I have definitely applied some similar steps and confirm that they worked for me. But I will really check it out just the way you sketched… thanks Viktoria
So just like speaking the language I’m fearful that I may not even be able to write it well in L2. Do you recommend putting your journaling through a grammar/spelling program in L2 if you don’t have an established tutor yet? I think these fears are holding me back from many of your outstanding recommendations. Thanks.
I love to write my thoughts, but I fear that if I kept a journal in french, just writing whatever came to mind, I would be reinforcing grammatical errors rather than correcting them.
Hey lovely teacher I'm beginner here I want to improve my writing and speaking skills I try my best but I couldn't succeed When I try to write and speak the words do not come in my brain I confused shy and disheartened when I try to write and speak the words do not support me my mind is freez or stuck maybe my learning method is old or my teacher is not competent something is worng long time I struggle but still same sometimes I think I stop learning language process I listen podcast watch movies reads newspaper and books used others sources but still same can you help me in this regard please
This article comes at just the right moment! Recently, some of my students (advanced Italian learners) asked me about journaling exercises. Apparently, they’ve already tried keeping a journal, but they struggle to be consistent. I was planning to propose some activities in this direction, and your articles have given me some really important insights that I can’t wait to put into practice. Thank you so much!
This distinction between a life journal and a practice journal really resonated with me. I'd never thought about journaling in those terms before. In the past, I encouraged my students to keep journals, but they usually wrote for a day or two, filled with similar sentences, and then I felt it wasn't working, so I gave up the idea.
Reading this has made me want to try the other kind myself, to write about something I genuinely need to say rather than something I'm supposed to practise.
Many thanks for your article, I saved it! The idea of leaving blanks spaces in brackets for missing words or structures and revise them later, is clever and useful. I wish I had thought about it myself! I'll definitely add it into my practice. I'm trying to revive my almost dead high school German and university Japanese at the same time, while working to improve my English as well.
I can attest to this. Reflective journaling and even using a pocket notebook to quickly jot down a new word and use it in at least one sentence has helped tremendously! I had been stuck at b2 in Turkish and can finally say I’m almost at c1. Great deep dive into this Victoria!
Thank you, SadieCat! Yes, grammar/spelling tools and AI can be very helpful here, especially before you have a tutor. I would write the entry first without stopping to correct every sentence, then ask AI to correct it, explain the main mistakes, and show a more natural version. You can even ask it to keep your original meaning and level rather than rewriting everything in advanced language. Keep your voice intact.
I would not correct every single journal entry, though. Sometimes the purpose is simply to write and express yourself. And please do not wait until you can write well. Several imperfect sentences are already amazing practice ☺️ Best wishes
As I am learning German and at B2.. I have definitely applied some similar steps and confirm that they worked for me. But I will really check it out just the way you sketched… thanks Viktoria
Thank you for sharing - love this idea!
So just like speaking the language I’m fearful that I may not even be able to write it well in L2. Do you recommend putting your journaling through a grammar/spelling program in L2 if you don’t have an established tutor yet? I think these fears are holding me back from many of your outstanding recommendations. Thanks.
I love to write my thoughts, but I fear that if I kept a journal in french, just writing whatever came to mind, I would be reinforcing grammatical errors rather than correcting them.
Hey lovely teacher I'm beginner here I want to improve my writing and speaking skills I try my best but I couldn't succeed When I try to write and speak the words do not come in my brain I confused shy and disheartened when I try to write and speak the words do not support me my mind is freez or stuck maybe my learning method is old or my teacher is not competent something is worng long time I struggle but still same sometimes I think I stop learning language process I listen podcast watch movies reads newspaper and books used others sources but still same can you help me in this regard please
This article comes at just the right moment! Recently, some of my students (advanced Italian learners) asked me about journaling exercises. Apparently, they’ve already tried keeping a journal, but they struggle to be consistent. I was planning to propose some activities in this direction, and your articles have given me some really important insights that I can’t wait to put into practice. Thank you so much!
This distinction between a life journal and a practice journal really resonated with me. I'd never thought about journaling in those terms before. In the past, I encouraged my students to keep journals, but they usually wrote for a day or two, filled with similar sentences, and then I felt it wasn't working, so I gave up the idea.
Reading this has made me want to try the other kind myself, to write about something I genuinely need to say rather than something I'm supposed to practise.
Many thanks for your article, I saved it! The idea of leaving blanks spaces in brackets for missing words or structures and revise them later, is clever and useful. I wish I had thought about it myself! I'll definitely add it into my practice. I'm trying to revive my almost dead high school German and university Japanese at the same time, while working to improve my English as well.
I can attest to this. Reflective journaling and even using a pocket notebook to quickly jot down a new word and use it in at least one sentence has helped tremendously! I had been stuck at b2 in Turkish and can finally say I’m almost at c1. Great deep dive into this Victoria!