I’ve been dreaming of reading in English ever since I started studying the language.
I was only 12 when I started studying English in school (my English should be better, I know!), and I was already a very avid reader. When I began attending English classes and fell in love with the language, I immediately understood that it could be a tool I could use to be freer.
Using English, I could speak with foreign people and make new friends (vital for a teenager), I could understand the lyrics of the songs I listened to religiously (even more vital for me), and also read all the books I wanted. Needless to say, it took me a while to be able to read English books, but finally being able to do it was a true accomplishment.
For many years, I read English books only for the sake of reading, without taking it as a way to practice the language. As I said, English for me was a tool I could use to access all the things I was really interested in. Later in life, though, I realized that I could use books as a way to keep practicing and improving my English skills. Reading books, after all, is a very powerful language-learning activity, as I wrote in a previous blog post.
This is why I signed up for an English book club and started doing 1-on-1 conversations based on books, which means that we read books as a language practice. I have been doing this for a while now and, even though I love it a lot, at a certain point I realized I was missing something. I was just reading the books and making notes about the new vocabulary to discuss with the teacher, but after a while, it was difficult for me to remember what I had learned.
So I bought a notebook and used it to reflect thoroughly on the book I was reading. I started jotting down notes about the characters, the plot, my feelings while reading the book, and about all the language elements I would find interesting or worth remembering. I basically created my own reading journal, and I keep using it religiously to document my English reading experience (I am even thinking of taking it to the next level and starting to do collages inspired by the books I read!).
This simple journal has made my reading experience with English books more useful and wholesome. I find it useful in multiple ways:
1. I write down notes and thoughts about the book, which means that I am not only reading but also using another language skill (writing)
2. I can make a list of the new words I want to keep in mind (not every new word, only a small selection, because I would never remember all of them!) and include examples of how the word is used in the book
3. I can reread my notes multiple times, and this helps me reinforce the words and grammar elements I learned
In addition, I find a reading journal really great because it allows me to delve deeply into the book. I usually make a summary of the plot (and sometimes even of each chapter), which I find really useful when discussing the book. I reflect on the characters and their evolution, on the setting (both geographical and historical), and on any other element that might catch my attention.
Using a reading journal has really improved my use of books as a language reading practice. This is why I decided to create an Italian reading journal that could help you get the most out of your reading activity. Based on my experience, I created a journal full of prompts and ideas to make you use Italian to reflect on the book and the language.
The journal has sections to reflect on the book before reading it and others to work on the book while reading it. These sections are focused on plot, characters, setting, and many other elements of the book. Needless to say, there are questions to answer after reading the book and a lot of space for free activities. I have been working on it during the summer, and I have to say I am quite proud of how it came out!
The journal is called Diario di lettura, and I am sure it will be a great companion for your Italian reading practice. It is not related to a specific book, so you can buy it and reuse it multiple times. If you want to buy it or have more information, you can check this dedicated page (check this video if you want to see the journal in detail).
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