I have a terrible habit of hoarding blank notebooks, fancy pens, and cute stickers. So instead of letting them continue to sit in my desk drawers forever, I decided to start a language journal! The concept is simple yet effective: try to use only your target language to fill up a journal! I’ve been writing entirely in Chinese, but this method works for any target language. Honestly, I find journaling to be challenging, but here are some tips (and prompts!) for you to begin and stay motivated to write your very own language journal!
1. You got this
As a beginner Chinese student, I often get intimidated by the idea of using only Chinese. I’m here to remind you that you know a lot more than you think! For journaling inspiration, find a vocabulary word, an expression, or a theme from your textbook. For example, my class is currently on a lesson about weather (天气). Just drawing from what you’ve already learned, you can write about today’s weather forecast, the weather in your hometown, or your favorite type of weather. Remember, it doesn’t have to be the most perfect or eloquent writing, as long as you write!
2. Bring out stickers, doodles, washi tape, anything
One of my fatal flaws is that I am way too scared to use up a sticker. But including stickers, doodles, washi tape, magazine clippings, ticket stubs, etc. will strengthen your connections between the language and visual concepts. This might be a good idea if you’re using vocabulary that you still haven’t mastered. It might be helpful for me to draw a flower next to the Chinese character 花 to make sure that I’ll remember the word the next time I re-read the entry.
3. Use journaling prompts for inspiration
Sometimes it’s difficult to keep up with a journal if you find yourself writing about the same things. Here are some beginner-friendly prompts to get you started!
- Watch a movie or a TV episode (bonus points if it’s in your target language!), take notes, and explain what you watched. Maybe you want to write a description of what a character looks like, write down your favorite dialogue, or summarize the plot.
- Introduce members of your family, try to branch out as far as you can. What are their names, ages, occupations, physical descriptions, hobbies? Where does your extended family live? Does your family have certain traditions? Do you have any pets?
- What is your favorite word or phrase in your target language? When did you learn it? Why do you like it? Practice using it in different sentences and situations.
- Describe your surroundings in as much detail as you can. Do any of the objects have meaning to you? Are you comfortable or uncomfortable? What colors are around you?
I hope these tips got you motivated and inspired to start a language journal, now let’s get to writing our first entry!