Nature journaling in English language teaching: an introduction for practitioners

Abstract

In this innovative practice article, we introduce nature journaling in the context of English language teaching (ELT) – an approach and conceptualization that remain mostly unexplored in the field. As educators concerned with our environments, the natural world, and students’ social-emotional literacy and well-being, we make a case for the need to reimagine ELT classrooms as places where nature is embraced and centered. To further elaborate on our stance, we divide this article into four main sections. In the first section, we provide a brief overview of nature journaling in environmental education (EE) and ELT contexts. In the second section, we connect nature journaling with the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)’s five SEL competencies, the framework grounding our conversation. In the third section, we reflect on our practices and provide six considerations for practitioners seeking to incorporate nature journaling in diverse ELT spaces and environments. In the fourth section, we share an example of a nature journaling activity ELT practitioners can use with their English learners. We end this article with final thoughts about the positive effects of nature journaling for students and practitioners in ELT. Also, we offer recommendations for further exploration and research.