Dear students,
For the month of June I would like to add an extra element to our regular lessons. I know you are busy, but this is vital. June will include "dialogue journals" in which the student and teacher have a written discussion. You (the student) will write a journal entry and send it to me. Then, I will write back to you. I will not correct grammar or spelling or anything really! Regular lessons are for grammar, etc. This activity is to get you in the right habit. Habit can be dangerous, but it can also be exactly what we need to succeed. If you are lost, then you will have to just trust me... and smile! Also, this will be a recurring homework. You should respond at least three times a week.
There are other options for journal entries below:
Encouraging ESL writing can be arduous. Here are a few things that may (or may not) help depending on each students' level, enthusiasm, and desire.
Writing prompted from pictures...
For any level:
Miscellaneous:
http://www.tomslatin.com/80-journal-writing-prompts/
http://esl.fis.edu/learners/writing/misc/journal.htm
One of my favorites is "dialogue journals" where the student and teacher communicate through writing about the chosen subjects for the journal entries. The teacher is more of a facilitator and instigator rather than an active responder. Basically, the teacher doesn't write too much about themselves unless prompted by the student. Also, make sure the student knows you are not correcting their grammar or spelling for this exercise. The exercise is primarily to encourage critical thinking, flow thinking, and habit.
http://www.cal.org/caela/esl_resources/digests/dialogue_journals.html
Teaching Tolerance: A Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center
This site has important discussions about immigration, social justice, and using writing as a means of not only cultural poesis but community/communication infrastructure.
For the advanced student:
Dialogue journals are continuing through mid-July! When they are finished, we will move on to picture dictation which I will introduce when the time comes.