Want to improve your English skills by writing in a journal or diary?
There are no strict rules when it comes to keeping a daily journal.
Just smart & effective ways to improve your journaling experience.
You can use journaling to help with your personal growth as an English learner.
Try journaling as a tool to practise English in your daily life and improve your English grammar, vocabulary words & phrases.
Discover below some of the best tips you can follow to improve your journaling experience:
1. Manage your expectations.
2. Write at the same time each day.
3. Create a journaling ritual.
4. Don’t worry about what you are writing.
5. Pick a nice-looking journal
6. Set a daily reminder.
7. You may want to use writing prompts.
Grammar Check!
The above- Tips no: 1 to 7 are example sentences of the English Imperative Form. Notice how each sentence starts with an action verb.
Journaling Topic Vocabulary - Word List
Word / Part of Speech / Meaning
1. keep (v) a journal / diary = to record events or info regularly in journal /diary
2. unrealistic (adj) = not realistic
3. stick to (phrasal v) = to do something without changing
4. a ritual (n) = to do something in the same way every time
5. daunting (adj) = make you feel fear and not able to do it
6. playlist (n) = a list of songs someone choose to listen
7. writing prompt (n) = to inspire you with ideas on what to write
8. look forward to something (phrasal v)
= feel pleased & excited about something going to happen
9. stuck (adj) = unable to move
7 Journaling Tips To Help Improve Your Grammar & Vocabulary
Let's go through the 7 tips below to give you a better idea of how you can use them to in your journaling or diary writing journey:
TIP#1 - Manage your expectations.
You might think that as soon as you start journaling, you will feel happier and more productive instantly. You may also think that it is going to be easy to know what to write all the time.
Keeping a journal isn’t always going to be easy to stick to.
Sometimes you'll also need to be really honest about your feelings & emotions.
And you are journaling in English. You may be struggling with your grammar.
Or you might feel that you do not have enough vocabulary yet to express yourself.
Personal growth isn’t easy. It is uncomfortable, scary, and often challenging.
So, take it slow and be kind to yourself.
Keep your expectations realistic and remember, it takes time to build up any new habit. *Rome wasn't built in a day!
Vocabulary Check!
*(idiom) = it takes time to achieve (great) things
TIP#2 - Write at the same time each day.
Choose a time to write in your journal daily. And try stick to that time every day.
Journaling at the same time, day in and day out will become a routine.
And before you know it, you are always looking forward to the time of day when you can have a little English practice with your journal.
Of course, there are days when you can't keep to the same time to write.
Or you simply can't write at all. Taking a break is fine.
But get back to your routine as soon as you can. We all know what'll happen if we don't stick to a schedule after a while.
It's gong to be tough to start all over again.
If you stick to writing at around the same time every day, you’ll find it much easier to build journaling up as a habit.
TIP#3 - Create a journaling ritual.
To make journaling something you enjoy, create a journaling ritual for yourself.
A little routine that you do before picking up your pen.
Choose your personal space to journal, it can be a quiet corner of your room or house. An armchair or the seat at your balcony. Or it could be a quiet spot in your favourite park. You choose.
If you feel you write better with a cup of tea or coffee with some snacks, do it.
Some people prefer to journal with soft, relaxing music.
Try out & experiment with the different rituals & stick to the one that suits you best.
TIP#4 - Don’t worry about what you are writing.
When a blank page is staring back at you, it can be daunting not knowing what to write.
This happens to a lot of people when they are starting out.
And also the reason why many give up journaling halfway..
It is not important what you write when you first start to journal.
Remember these 3 tips whenever you are stuck:
1. Write something or anything to get you started.
2. There are no set rules on what to write about in a journal.
3. It's your journal & you want to improve your English so do what's best for you.
Your journal is personal to you, and only you will see it.
Write in whatever style you want.
Start out small, write for just 5-10 minutes at a time. Like a warm-up to get you into the writing habit.
It'll get easier the more practice you put into it as time goes by.
TIP#5 - Pick a nice-looking journal
Please LOVE the journal you choose to write in.
You'll want to write in it if you like the cover, design or feel of it.
You'll look forward to your daily ritual of sharing & writing your thoughts & experiences.
Practising your grammar and vocabulary phrases is way more fun. Seriously.
Imagine you are having a conversation in English with your journal.
So, when choosing your journal, pay attention to its design.
Does it have any features you love?
Compare several different journals before deciding which one is right for you.
TIP#6 - Set a daily reminder.
As journaling will be something new and not part of your daily routine, you may need to be reminded.
Setting a reminder can help you remember to journal. And to do it at the same time everyday.
TIP#7 - You may want to use writing prompts.
Using writing prompts can help you journal better.
Many online writing prompts will help get started on your journal journey.
People are usually stuck when they are starting out with journaling.
Writing prompts are there to get you inspired on what to write.
These are just some of the tips you can follow for better journaling.
However, remember there are no set rules.
Now that you know the benefits of journaling and the tips you can follow to make it more effective.
What exactly should you be writing about?
Check out our Grammar Related Posts
D. Let's Test Your English Grammar & Vocabulary Knowledge!
Vocabulary List Review Practice
Fill in the blanks with the vocabulary words from the list.
1. Every morning I do yoga and have coffee before work.
Your Answer:
Doing yoga and having coffee is my morning ..............
2. I wrote in my journal every day when I was a student.
Your Answer:
I ............... a journal when I was a student.
3. "Teacher, my English will improve even if I don't practise regularly, right?"
Your Answer:
No, you're being ................... 4. You'd better ................ ............. your habit of writing in your daily journal.
5. I like listening to my 90's song collection on my iPhone.
Your Answer:
I like listening to my 90's ................... on my iPhone.
6. Wow, look at that beautiful building! It's gorgeous.
-Yeah, it took them 20 years to complete it.
Your Answer:
Well, ......... ......... ......... ..... .... ......,you know.
7. My little nephew is coming on Saturday for a visit.
Your Answer:
I .......... .............. ............. ...... seeing him.
That's it. The 7 journaling / diary writing tips to inspire you to start a habit of writing that can help you practise and improve your grammar and vocabulary.
So, are you going to try out this method of practising your English? Try it. You might like it.
Thanks so much for reading & Happy Learning!
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