A Review on Learning Journals in College English Writing

徐翠

Abstract： This paper focuses on the review on learning journals conducted by college English writing learners covering its background and application both in general field and writing.

Keywords： Learning journals； applications

Among the substantial body of research in the area of English language learning， learning journals， as one of the practice of self-regulated learning， is usually used as a way to cultivate students' learning autonomy in English learning[1-2]. However， there are few articles providing systematically theoretical review on learning journals in college students' English learning. This paper tries to find out the functions of learning journals in one of the college students English learning skills， writing.

1. Background of Learning Journals

It is widely agreed that the education we need is one that stimulates each individual to develop an autonomous or self-regulatory and critical thinking， allowing each one to decide by his own what to do in the different circumstances in life. And autonomous learning should be emphasized， mostly at the university level[3].

No matter how people look at self-regulated learning， its essence is that self-regulated learners should be responsible for their own learning. Therefore， to develop self-regulated learning we must find out a way to help students realize what they do in learning process and review what they can do to enhance their personal awareness while learning， thus students awareness come to change their notion of learning and stimulate intrinsic learning motivation. Learning journals are regarded as a way to achieve this purpose.

2. Application of Learning Journals in English Learning

2.1 Learning Journals in General Field

The literature on learning journals are quite a few.

In Ying Danjun[4]s article， The Application of Learning Journals and the Cultivation of Students Self-regulated Learning in the ESL Curriculum Innovation， the author presents the idea that learner journals not only are a good approach to language practice， but also can help students to reflect regularly on their own learning experiences in the process of curriculum innovation， try to be aware of their learning needs， form new learning concepts， and increase confidence and the sense of achievement， which could help to develop students self-regulated learning.

Long Mei [5] finds out in her How to Cultivate Students Ability of Self-regulated Learning with the Application of Learning Journals in English Teaching in 2005， that learning journals work in cultivating the ability of self-regulated study through questionnaires and collecting students learning journals. According to this article， learning journals can help students to reflect on experiences and promote self-learning， clear learning requirements， adjust learning methods， optimize learning strategies， monitor learning behavior， strengthen the communication between teachers and students and provide teaching feedback for teachers.

Wu Xuehui[6] presents the similar idea in her Learning Journals--A Effective Way to Cultivate Self-regulated Learning， that the change of learning subject leads to the innovation of view on knowledge and value and the updating of teachers roles they palm. Based on these findings， the new curriculum puts forward the necessity of changing learning methods of students. And this article takes learning journals as a new learning method to learn the new curriculum so as to achieve the purpose of self-learning and lifelong learning.

2.2 Learning Journals in English Writing

Besides the literature in the functions of learning journals in English learning in the general field， there are also some researchers considering learning journals as a good way to promote college students English writing. In Zhu Liya[7] s Guiding Writing： Strategies and Skills Beginning with the Personal Essay， she describes the current problems existing in college students English writing， i.e.， lack of motivation and confidence. And to solve these two problems she tries and finds out， learning journals is a good tool to cultivate interest and help student to rebuilt confidence in English writing. She also says journal writing plays some part of improving the students writing abilities and students will make some progress soon using the journals in English writing.

Compared with the study in other fields， the application of learning journals in English writing is not so abundant. As the importance of promoting college students English writing， it is necessary to do more research to find scientific ways for learners and teachers.

References

[1] 付美叶.英语日志对提高初中生自主学习能力的作用[J]. 山东师范大学外国语学院 学报（基础英语教育）， 2007（05）：36-40.

[2] 唐美玲.网络环境下大学英语听说自主性的培养———一项关于反思性学习日志的实证研究[J]. 时代文学（下半月）， 2009（04）：86-87.

[3] Pintrich R. Understanding self-regulated learning [M]. In R. Pintrich （Ed.）， Understanding self-regulated learning number 63， San Francisco： Jossey-Bass， 1995： 3-12.

[4] 应单君. 外语课程改革中学习日志的运用与学生自主学习的培养[C]. 自主性语言学习：开放与管理，2004：151-160.

[5] 龙梅. 在英语教学中如何使用学习日志培养学生的自主学习能力[J]. 滁州学院学报， 2005（05）：113-116.

[6] 吴雪慧. 学习日志—培养学生自主学习得有效方式[J]. 福建教育学院学报，2008（11）：19-21.

[7] 朱利亚. 写作导向-以个人日志开始的策略与技巧[J]. 中国英语教学，2003（03）：29-32.