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One effective way to improve your English is to keep a journal. In the beginning of the year, I usually encourage my students to get a diary or any exercise book. Creative students usually like to make their own from old exercise books or even old diaries. (recycling, remember?)
What do you write in a journal?
I would say anything that you feel like writing. I often begin by giving them ten minutes of the class and ask them to write anything that comes to their mind - yes, even just words. I ask them to make a collage of words and help them see a connection and give them ideas to go on. Some of my students can hardly string some words together in the beginning but at the end of the year, they could actually manage to write a nice sweet letter to me. The following questions might give you some ideas.
What are your likes and dislikes? Did anything happen in school today? Long assemblies? Are you having any problems in your relationships? Did you go anywhere, any short trips during the holidays? Did you read anything interesting lately? Any phrases that you like? What are the songs that you like - their lyrics? What did you do in your English lesson today?
Include in your journal any articles, poems, lyrics etc that impressed you. What about the letters and postcards that you receive - what were your thoughts and response.
Please do not worry about your grammar or get bogged down by your vocabulary. Consult a dictionary if you must, but the most important thing is you must write and enjoy it. My students end up going for walks and even paste the leaves in the journal.
If you intend to keep a journal at home, make sure you set aside some time every day. Do not write too long. Just an entry a day of something that made an impression on you.Parents, if you are reading this, you can help out by making sure that the television is switched off for at least an hour a day to allow some quiet reading and thinking.
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