Utilising Reflective Journals as an Assessment Tool: A Case Study of Kurdish EFL Post Graduate Students at Salahaddin University-Erbil

This study accentuates the notion that reflection profoundly aids students to profit from their own experiences. It aims at revealing Kurdish post-graduate students' perceptions toward utilising journal writing as an assessment tool. It also tries to uncover their language progress, metacognition, and self-awareness as a consequence of journal writing. Finally, it elicits challenges encountered by students when writing their journals. The current study is of qualitative-interpretive nature. Students' journal writing is the main tool of the study. Thematic analysis is carried out on data collected from reflective journals and a focus group interview including twelve Kurdish post-graduate students. Journaling resulted in greater class participation, better language skills, more profound professional insights, and the right set of circumstances for students to connect with authentic assessment.