by Revel Arroway

Created on: November 07, 2010   Last Updated: November 11, 2010

A language learning journal is a study tool that is often helpful in developing habits and keeping record of your achievements while studying a new language. The learning journal is an addition to the text, notebooks and binder of homework assignments. It should serve as a day-to-day reminder of what you have learned, what you should remember, where you were yesterday with the language and where you would like to be tomorrow. In this way, it can help you to mark and meet your goals in learning your target language. 

Choosing the journal

Because this will be a day-to-day record, the best type of material would be some kind of date book. The date book should have at least one/half or one full page for each day of the year, with the day and date on each page. Depending on how you like to note things, you can choose either lined or graphed pages; each has its use in making your entries.

Most date books will include, at the end, a few pages for noting names and telephone numbers. This is an important feature to be sure your new journal has, as these sections are often divided into alphabetical sections.

The best date book for your language journal will be one published in the language you are learning. That is, if you are studying Spanish, find a date book that is published in a Spanish speaking country that will have no English words in it. It is almost counter-productive to buy the date book in your own language. 

Making entries

Remember that this is your language journal, not a notebook. The notes you take in language class will have their place in your regular class notebook. This journal is specifically for recording, on a daily basis, your experiences with the language you are learning, not verb charts or grammar points.

If you carry your journal around with you at all times, you can take a moment and note things you have heard. This applies both if you live in the target language country or if you are still in your native language country. In the target language country you might note down how the lady next to you in the café asked for the bill. In your own country you can note down something you’ve heard that you would possibly like to say in your new language. This will serve as a reminder to find out from your teacher how to say that expression or word when in class.

You could use the journal to sum up the day’s work. For example, after having done your homework for the evening, you can get out your language study journal and,

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>