Then and Now: My Portfolio Vjournal

✨ "Then and Now: My Portfolio Vjournal"

🎯 Lesson Focus:

Students create and present a visual journal (Vjournal) comparing moments or aspects of their life then and now, using photos or drawings. They’ll write short descriptions and narrate their reflections as part of a personal language portfolio.

👩‍🏫 Target Learners:

Intermediate to High-Intermediate EFL learners (CEFR B1–B2)

⏳ Time Needed:

2–3 class sessions (45–60 minutes each), plus independent work

📚 Learning Goals:

  • Use past and present tense accurately

  • Practice sequencing words and descriptive vocabulary

  • Improve oral fluency and confidence

  • Reflect on personal growth and express identity through English

  • Build a personalized artifact for a language portfolio

🧰 What You’ll Need:

  • Personal photos (childhood, past school year, first time in Korea, etc.) or hand-drawn images

  • Phones, tablets, or computers with presentation tools (Google Slides, Canva, PowerPoint, etc.)

  • Access to recording tools (optional: Flip, Padlet, voice recorder)

  • Planning worksheet (you can make this as a handout or digital form)

  • A teacher model/example to inspire students

🔶 DAY 1: Brainstorm & Plan

🗣️ Warm-Up Discussion (10 min):

Think–Pair–Share:
“What is something about me that has changed in the past few years?”
(Prompt: appearance, interests, habits, routines, goals, school life, friendships, etc.)

🧠 Mini-Lesson (10 min):

  • Grammar focus:
    “I used to…” / “I didn’t use to…” / “Now I…” / “These days…”

  • Sequencing vocabulary:
    First, then, after that, now, recently, these days

🎬 Project Launch (15 min):

  • Show an example Vjournal (e.g., teacher’s childhood photo + recent photo, with captions)

  • Discuss: What makes it interesting or meaningful?

✍️ Student Planning (20 min):

  • Choose or brainstorm 2–3 “Then and Now” photo pairs

  • Fill in a planning sheet:

    • What is in the photo?

    • When and where was it taken?

    • What has changed?

    • Why is this important to me?

🏠 Homework:

  • Collect photos (digital or print)

  • Write 1–2 sentences for each image: one for the then photo, one for the now

🔶 DAY 2: Write & Narrate

✍️ Caption Writing (20 min):

  • Students write captions for each photo pair

  • Focus on using correct tenses and descriptive language

  • Partner feedback using a simple checklist (Did they use past/present accurately? Is it easy to understand?)

🎙️ Narration Practice (25 min):

  • Turn captions into a short spoken script (about 1–2 minutes total)

  • Practice narrating aloud with a partner or to a voice recording app

  • Encourage natural pacing, pronunciation, and emotion

🏠 Optional Homework:

  • Record your full narration (audio or video)

  • Write a short reflection:
    “What surprised me about comparing myself now and then?”

🔶 DAY 3: Share & Reflect

📽️ Presentations (30–40 min):

  • Students present their Vjournals (slides, posters, or digital posts)

  • Encourage peer feedback:

    • 💬 “One thing I learned about you…”

    • 🌟 “One thing I liked…”

    • 💡 “One suggestion…”

🪞 Personal Reflection (10–15 min):

  • Write a paragraph answering:
    “How did this project help you practice English and reflect on your life?”

  • Group discussion:
    “Why is it helpful to look back and notice change?”

🧠 Assessment Focus:

✔ Use of correct past and present tense
✔ Clear comparison of “Then and Now”
✔ Thoughtful photo or image choices
✔ Confidence and clarity in narration
✔ Personal reflection and insight

💡 Extensions & Variations:

  • 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Partner version: “Compare My Story with a Classmate’s”

  • 🔮 Future twist: “Now and My Future Self”

  • 🌍 Global focus: “How My Worldview Changed” (e.g., before/after living abroad)

  • 🖼️ Class gallery walk: Post projects around the room or digitally and do a silent feedback walk

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