Diaries as a Pedagogical Tool for Exploring Metalinguistic Awareness of University Language Learners

This paper presents the results of our ethnographic, longitudinal research work with learning diaries. The pedagogical approach of using diaries for exploring metalinguistic awareness seems also to be suitable for enhancing academic skills and consolidating teaching and learning. Our research aimed to explore the manifestations of metalinguistic awareness of students who were learning Spanish at Dundee University in three different, evening classes. We introduced learning diaries to classroom practice as a task for the end of each language input. Our research showed that, by using a diary, students consciously expressed detailed reflections on language analysis and compared Spanish with their L1. However, they did not seem to reflect on their own learning strategies and to demonstrate an intercultural awareness. The paper concludes with some recommendations for the enhancement of the language teaching and learning experience, and the improvement of both teaching materials and teaching methods at University level.