Journal writing is not new--journals have been around for centuries.
More recently, journals have been viewed as a means of scaffolding
reflective teaching and encouraging reflectivity in research processes.
As a result, some educators may ask, "What more do we need to know?"
Those likely to raise this question are probably not thinking of the
explosive growth of reflective writing enabled by social networking on
the Web, the blogs and other interactive e-vehicles for reflection on
experiences in our literate, "real," and virtual lives This revisiting
of journal writing from a 21st century perspective, informed by relevant
earlier literature, is what Christine Pearson Casanave guides readers
through in this first book-length treatment of the use of journal
writing in the contexts of language learning, pre and in-service
teaching, and research.
Casanave has put together existing ideas that haven't been put together
before and has done it not as an edited collection, but as a
single-authored book. She has done it in a way that will be especially
accessible to teachers in language teacher education programs and to
practicing teachers and researchers of writing in both second and
foreign language settings, and in a way that will inspire all of us to
think about, not just do, journal writing.
Those who have never attempted to use journals in their classes and own
lives, as well as others who have used it with mixed results, will
probably be tempted to try it in at least some of the venues Casanave
provides guidance for. Those already committed to journal writing will
very likely find in this book new reasons for expanding and enhancing
their use of journals.
