An elementary school foreign language teacher reflects on her first year and a half of being a Spanish foreign language in the elementary school (FLES) teacher. Highlights challenges, frustrations, and positive aspects of the job. (Author/VWL)

Illustrates the significant contribution journal writing can make to deepening researchers' understanding of all facets of the research processes. Argues that such journals can provide other researchers with illuminating insight into the research process. (Author/VWL)

Two English-as-a-Second/Foreign-language (ESL) teachers describe their experiences using journals of their teaching experiences. They share what they learned about their own classroom practices by keeping teaching diaries and explain how they made the entries in the journals while teaching full time. (Author/VWL) (Author/VWL)

This paper outlines the possible impact of Bakhtinian theory concept in English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) instruction. Bakhtin views on the culturally and politically embedded nature of language and addressivity and answerability are ideal for discussion of cross-cultural communication. His cultural and political context are inseparable from an…

Looks at the design, implementation, and integration of a task journal in an English-as-a-Foreign-Language class that is designed to do the following: 1) stimulate students' thinking about the text; 2) promote reflection on the reading process; 3) give students practice with a practical strategy for vocabulary building; and 4) serve as a basis for…

Lists and describes 10 tips for successfully implementing writing tutorials as generated by English as a Second or Other Language teachers and based on the points they commented on in their journals and class discussions. (Author/VWL)

Discusses ways to make writing enjoyable by making it significant. Journal writing became the means for encouraging students in one English-as-a-Second-Language class to write more. (Author/VWL)

Introduces the activity of student-written reading logs as a practical application of reader-response theory in English-as-Foreign-Language literature teaching. Because reader-response theory stresses the synthesis between reader and text, it is proposed that practical applications should be based on the interaction. (Author/VWL)

This article presents my views and reflections on working with adult ESL learners at a community-based adult literacy program in the Southwest. In this article, I share my experience working with adult learners learning English as a second language and critically address and discuss issues significant to the learners in their language and…

Presents eight philosophical principles needed for implementing a whole language foreign language class (WLFLC) and provides a description of a WLFLC as a practical example. Outlines the three basic components needed to establish a WLFLC and presents a description of activities used, including language projects, reading children's literature in…

Provides a rationale to support an experiential and process-oriented approach to the development of discussion skills in a second language. Although English is used for exemplification, the approach could be used to develop discussion skills in any second language. (13 references) (Author/CK)

Examined the effect of differential feedback (corrections, commentaries), and a combination of the two) on the journal writing accuracy of minority- and majority-language students being educated in the same classrooms. Journal writing samples were collected from 112 fifth grade students over 4 months. Outcomes of the study are discussed in light…

Describes the use of secret student/student dialog exchange journals with English-as-a-Foreign-Language students at Tamkang University in Taiwan. This activity helps develop students' fluency and expressive language and increases their awareness of an audience. (Author/VWL)

Focuses on student involvement in determining course structure through journal writing. Successful student writers become highly skilled at directing the course of their own learning. The data in the journals inform teachers about what is occurring in learners' heads. Reflective journal writers are adopting a professional approach to their…

Discusses the use of "buddy journals" between pairs of native and nonnative English-speaking students to help develop the English literacy skills of both groups of students. Guidelines are provided for matching student pairs, evaluating student writing, and allowing for midcourse changes, as well as sample journal topics. (15 references) (MDM)