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ESL Writing A Diary-Journal Comprehension

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21 views8 pages

ESL Writing A Diary-Journal Comprehension

writing

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Chủ Tử
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Diary/Journal Writing

ESL Reading Comprehension

Pre-reading discussion questions


• What is a diary/journal?

• What is your opinion on keeping a diary?

• Who can benefit from diary keeping?

What is journaling or diary writing?

Journaling or diary writing is the action of writing down your feelings, thoughts and
experiences to understand them better. You can journal in a book or on a digital device
like a phone or tablet.

The terms “journaling” and “diary writing” are used interchangeably by most people, so
you too, can refer to this activity as you choose. Liberty is at the core of diary writing,
as there are almost no rules on where, how or what to write about. Some people choose
to write every day, while others only journal when they feel like it.

Why journal?

The process of writing down your thoughts, feelings and experiences allows you to
think about what you have written. Why is this important, you may ask yourself. Often
we don’t take cognisance of what we think, and we allow negative thoughts to roam
free in our minds. These negative thoughts can distort our perspective of situations and
people and leave us feeling frustrated and defeated.

Journaling allows us to recognise and process negative


and positive thoughts and feelings. When we discern
negative thinking, we can challenge it to change it; when
we notice positive thinking, we can build on it!

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Diary/Journal Writing

The pros of journaling or diary writing seem to outweigh the cons by far. Some of the
advantages of journaling include:

Gaining greater insight A place to vent


Journaling gives us a Ever felt you needed to get something off your
glimpse into ourselves and chest but couldn’t speak to anybody about it? We
causes us to become better are hesitant to share some things with others,
acquainted with who we possibly because we might be rejected or frowned
really are. It allows us to upon. Journaling, however, provides a safe space
find ourselves without the to express ourselves without fear. By writing things
pressure to feel we must down that concern or worry us, we release the
conform to others or thoughts and feelings which can cause unnecessary
their expectations. anxiety or stress.

Identifying personal goals and dreams Improve writing skills


Have you ever heard the saying “a person Diary writing provides a unique
can only achieve what they think is opportunity for writers of all ages to
possible”? Well, if this saying is true, practise and improve their practical
we can only achieve our goals once we and creative writing skills. A person’s
have identified them. A diary or journal journal will often never be assessed
provides the ideal place for us to list our academically, leaving writers to
goals and dreams to realise them! explore their own limitless creativity.

Identifying problems and possible


solutions
The reflective nature of journaling can
provide us with a fresh perspective on
a problem, and with a new perspective
often comes a solution! Regular
journaling has the potential to reveal
solutions to previously thought
insolvable problems.

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Diary/Journal Writing
Let us look at some of the cons of journaling or diary writing. Some disadvantages include:

Having a negative focus Compiling a record of wrongdoing


It is important to remember that although It is beneficial for us to record
journaling allows us the time and space events that have taken place in our
to process what we think and feel, we lives, especially if they are positive
ultimately remain responsible for how because they ultimately become our
we do it. Responsible journaling requires memories. However, we need to be
writers to record their thoughts and careful not to use our journaling as
feelings to process them, but not for a means of negative recordkeeping,
negative thoughts or feelings to become a which could include making a
focal point! Responsible journaling will seek list of things you or others have
to focus on what is positive and productive! done wrong.

What topics can I write about?

When it comes to journaling topics, the list is endless. Topics vary from feelings and
thoughts to friendship, family, dreams and fun memories. If you run out of topics,
feel free to browse the web to find new and exciting topic prompts.

Here are some examples of topic prompts:

If I could, I would (complete the sentence).

The following things make me happy: , ,


, , and . (Fill in the blanks).

If I had a million dollars, I would (complete the sentence).

Summary

Journal writing allows us to express and process our thoughts


and feelings. People of all ages and backgrounds daily use this
activity to make sense of themselves and the world around
them. Maybe it is time for you to try your hand at journaling
if you are not doing it or haven’t tried it before. Why not give
it a go? You might just find yourself in the pages of your diary.

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Diary/Journal Writing

Questions
Vocabulary Questions

1. What does 'liberty' mean?

a) bondage

b) freedom

c) constraint

d) chaos

2. What is the meaning of 'cognisance'?

a) ignorance

b) knowledge

c) attitude

d) behaviour

3. What are ‘pros and cons’ as used in the context above?

a) promises and consequences

b) professionals and crooks

c) problems and conditions

d) advantages and disadvantages

4. What does ‘acquainted’ mean?

a) be familiar with

b) be angry with

c) be uncertain of

d) be careful of

This resource has been made for the purpose of teaching English language learners. We know that students can be learning English in many different places, in many different ways and at age, so we try to
keep these resources as general as possible.
There are many acronyms associated with English language teaching. These include (but are not limited to) ELT, TEFL, EFL, ELL, EAL and ESOL. While the term ESL may not fully represent the linguistic
backgrounds of all students, it is the most widely recognised term for English language teaching globally. Therefore, we use the term ‘ESL’ in the names of our resources to make them easy to find but they are
suitable for any student learning to speak English.

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Diary/Journal Writing

Reading Comprehension Questions

1. What is journaling or diary writing?

2. Why should we journal?

3. How does journaling help to reduce stress?

4. What topics can a person journal on?

Writing Questions

1. Do you currently make use of a journal? Why or why not?

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Diary/Journal Writing

2. What other benefits can journaling have besides what was mentioned in the text?

3. What does it mean to “get something off your chest”?

4. If you could choose to write on three journal topics, what would they be?

5. Complete the diary or journal entry worksheet.

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Diary/Journal Writing

Answers
Vocabulary Questions

1. What does 'liberty' mean?

a) bondage

P b) freedom
c) constraint

d) chaos

2. What is the meaning of 'cognisance'?

a) ignorance

P b) knowledge
c) attitude

d) behaviour

3. What are ‘pros and cons’ as used in the context above?

a) promises and consequences

b) professionals and crooks

c) problems and conditions

P d) advantages and disadvantages


4. What does ‘acquainted’ mean?

P a) be familiar with
b) be angry with

c) be uncertain of

d) be careful of

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Diary/Journal Writing

Reading Comprehension Questions

1. What is journaling or diary writing?

Journaling or diary writing is the action of writing down your feelings, thoughts and
experiences to understand them better.

2. Why should we journal?

The process of writing down your thoughts, feelings and experiences allows you to
think about what you have written.

3. How does journaling help to reduce stress?

By writing things down that concern or worry us, we release the thoughts and
feelings which can cause unnecessary anxiety and stress.

4. What topics can a person journal on?

Topics vary from feelings and thoughts to friendship, family, dreams and fun
memories.

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