Image: Apple.com
Apple has launched a new app called Journal and I can't get over how useful and interesting it is!
Journaling on digital notes, through other dedicated apps or simply on my notebook is already a much-loved and needed moment of my day, but with this app, I'm exploring - and enjoying! - new writing techniques and ideas.
The app allows you to create beautiful entries where videos, audio notes. images and even locations meet to give life to your thoughts and turn your memories into a special, rich me-time writing experience.
Keeping a journal is one of the things I recommend to my students who want to improve their writing skills.
JOURNALING IS GOOD FOR YOUR ENGLISH
Indeed, journaling in English helps you to hone your writing skills, learn and memorise new vocabulary in a very natural and motivating way, while doing something for yourself.
The sentences you craft voice your thoughts, emotions and memories keeping you motivated to improve your work and write better.
This is why I think English students should journal as part of their learning experience, and this is what I say to my students:
1. Vocabulary Expansion: Writing regularly enhances vocabulary as you actively engage with and use new words in context.
2. Grammar Practice: Journaling provides a practical platform for applying grammar rules, reinforcing correct sentence structure and usage.
3. Communication Skills: Through writing, you can develop your ability to express thoughts and ideas coherently, improving overall communication skills.
4. Cultural Understanding: Describing experiences in a journal encourages exploration of cultural nuances, fostering a deeper understanding of the language’s context as you become more familiar with idioms, slang and cultural differences that often get "lost in translation ".
5. Consistent Practice: Daily journaling establishes a routine, ensuring consistent language practice and gradual improvement over time.
JOURNALING IS GOOD FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
Journaling is also important for your mental health and can help you to check-in with yourself at the beginning or end of the day, before an important day and also while studying English.
Studying a foreign language can be daunting and difficult. Based on our childhood experience with the language or how often we have a chance to practise it, English learning can make people feel very demotivated and insecure.
Yet, feelings are at the core of our internal, personal, most intimate relationship with ourselves, what we do and the way we look at the world. And feelings can be observed, changed and understood to improve the relationship with ourselves, others and the world.
This is why I believe that self-care is key for both teachers and students. And when it comes to journaling, it's not only good for our mind and soul but also for our language skills.
Here's 5 great reasons why I believe journaling is important for your mental wellbeing that can have a positive impact on your English learning journey, too.
1. Emotional Release: Writing allows a safe outlet for expressing and processing your emotions, reducing the emotional burden. Writing down how you feel about a certain situation, person or happening is like listening to your own thoughts and emotions. And giving voice to your emotions helps you to understand them better.
2. Self-Reflection: Journaling fosters self-awareness. It helps you gain insights into your thoughts, behaviors, and patterns. Regular journaling helps to discover your emotional patterns, what makes you happy or sad and why.
3. Stress Reduction: Regular journaling can alleviate stress by organizing thoughts and promoting a sense of control over your life.
4. Goal Clarity: Articulating goals in writing enhances clarity, making it easier to prioritize and work towards your personal objectives.
5. Positive Affirmation: Documenting positive experiences and gratitude promotes a more optimistic mindset, boosting overall mental well-being.
I would love to go in writing about this topic, but let's go back to our original discussion: journaling prompts to help you improve your English skills.
JOURNALING PROMPTS FOR YOU
Indeed, now that's we've explored a bit more the linguistic and mental benefits of this writing practice, I'd like to share 10 journaling prompts I created for you.
Here are 10 journaling prompts for intermediate English students using the iPhone app "Journal":
1. Visual Inspiration: Describe an image that evokes emotions, and then craft a short story or poem around it using the app's image integration.
2. Audio Reflection: Record a brief audio note discussing a memorable moment from your day and then expand on it in writing.
3. Bullet Point Adventure: List three interesting things that happened today, and turn them into detailed paragraphs using the app's bullet point and writing features.
4. Daily Reflection: Reflect on a challenge you faced, what you learned, and how it contributes to your personal growth.
5. Top 5 Goals: Create a list of five short-term goals, and outline steps to achieve each one using the app's to-do list feature.
6. Character Sketch: Invent a fictional character, providing details about their personality, background, and a significant event in their life.
7. Memory Lane: Recall a childhood memory, incorporating sensory details like sights, sounds, and smells into your narrative.
8. Bucket List Update: Add or revise items on your bucket list, explaining the reasons behind each choice.
9. Wordplay Challenge: Use three randomly chosen words and weave them into a short story or poem, exploring the app's writing tools.
10. Gratitude Journaling: List three things you're grateful for today and elaborate on why they bring positivity into your life.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Journaling has a range of benefits. Journaling is good for your mind, soul and language development. The new iPhone app gives you all this plus the chance to get creative using multimedia and craft personal journal entries that are also environmentally friendly (no wasted paper or ink!), can be taken everywhere with you and are easy to access, modify and store.
To create a lasting journaling routine, simply start using the app in English and set yourself small, reachable steps: a few minutes every other day, or maybe a longer journaling session before going to bed.
If you are more into paper notebooks, give yourself some time to slowly transition into this new app.
Ultimately, remember it's your me-time and entirely up to you!
Enjoy it!
Sarah Catherine
🐝
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