Introducing Students to Reading Response Logs for Efl Literature Circles

Reading response logs are journals which allow students to respond to and reflect on reading materials.Students are typically asked to record their reactions to what they have read, including making connections and evaluating the author's intentions.This article reports on the second stage of a two-part action research project.Having utilized assigned role sheets in the first part of the study, part two of the study reports on the same class of Japanese sophomore university students employing reading response logs to analyze, and then collaboratively discuss, a piece of graded fiction.Class procedures, analysis of students' log entries and discussions, student feedback, and salient issues that emerged are discussed.The study found that many of the participants valued the greater freedom and creativity associated with reading response logs.However, for response logs to be successful in EFL Literature Circle discussions, it is essential that students are trained in how to compose responses that not only facilitate peer comprehension, but also stimulate conversation. 41