The Effect of Using Personal Experience Journals on Writing Fluency and Writing Anxiety of Al-Aqsa University EFL Students

Abstract

Journal writing strategy is useful for improving students' English as a foreign language writing. However, a few researchers have investigated the use of journal writing in Palestinian English as a foreign language instructional settings. The current study examined the effect of one of the journal writing types i.e., personal experience journals on writing fluency and writing anxiety of a sample of students majoring in English language at Al-Aqsa University. The researcher administered a writing test and a closed-questionnaire to 30 students, and conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 students selected from the 30 ones. The study concluded that using personal experience journals could develop the participants' writing fluency and reduce their writing anxiety. Additionally, the interviews data analysis revealed that the participants had positive views on personal experience journals. Based on the study results, the researcher offered relevant implications.