Reinventing Myself as an Academic Writer in a Second Language: Reflective Journal Writing as a Powerful Tool to Facilitate Learning

• In Event: Roundtable Session 11
  In Roundtable Session: A Sense of Belonging: The Construction of Doctoral Identity

Abstract

Writing in a non-native language might be a major issue especially when you are an international doctoral student. Often we do not have the specific support to learn and practice academic writing skills in a second language. This paper is a personal account of the role that reflective journal writing played to enhanced learning for writing. Specifically, I described how, through critical reflection process, keeping a journal has facilitated my learning for writing and helped to develop my writing skills. As a result, I experienced transforming myself from being a beginning doctoral student in a second language to a more confident academic writer. Finally, along this time, I become a more engage, active and productive scholar.

Author

• Paulina Gutierrez Zepeda, Portland State University