B1 Lesson 3: Writing Short Blog Posts or Diary Entries on Familiar Topics
You have learned to write letters and emails to other people. Today, we will learn about a type of writing that is more personal: a diary entry1 or a simple blog post2.
This genre is perfect for sharing your personal experiences, thoughts, and feelings about a familiar topic. The style is usually informal and reflective3.
The Structure of a Simple Entry
A good diary or blog entry has a simple, clear structure: an opening to introduce the topic, a body to describe what happened, and a closing to reflect on it.
June 13, 2025
An Amazing Day at the Temples
(Opening) → Today was one of the most memorable days I've had in a long time. I finally took a tour of the main temples in the Angkor Archaeological Park just outside of Siem Reap.
(Body - What Happened?) → First, I went to Angkor Wat for the sunrise. Although it was crowded with many other tourists, the view was absolutely stunning as the sun appeared over the ancient towers. After that, I explored Bayon Temple. I was fascinated by all the giant, smiling stone faces and wondered what they have seen over the centuries.
(Closing Reflection) → Seeing these enormous, beautiful buildings made me feel very proud of Cambodia's history. It was a tiring day, but it was a wonderful experience that I will never forget.
Useful Phrases for Personal Writing
- Opening an entry: Today was a..., I want to write about..., I can't believe what happened today..., I finally got to...
- Expressing feelings: I felt (happy, tired, proud)..., It was (amazing, strange, difficult)..., I was surprised that...
- Closing with a reflection: Overall, it was a... experience., I learned that..., I hope I can do it again soon., It made me think about...
✍️ B1 Personal Writing Checklist
- ✔️ Does my entry have a clear Opening, Body, and Closing Reflection?
- ✔️ Am I writing from a personal perspective4 (using "I", "my", "me")?
- ✔️ Have I used descriptive and narrative skills to make the entry interesting?
- ✔️ Is the tone informal and reflective?
🧠 Practice Quiz: Identify the Part
Read each sentence and decide if it would be best as an Opening, a Body Detail, or a Closing Reflection in a diary entry.
1. First, we ordered two bowls of delicious Khmer noodle soup.
Answer: Body Detail (It describes a specific event in a sequence).
2. Overall, it was a simple but perfect day, and it made me appreciate my friends even more.
Answer: Closing Reflection (It summarizes the feeling and a final thought about the event).
3. I want to write about the fantastic lunch I had with my friend today.
Answer: Opening (It introduces the topic of the entry).
📝 Homework: Write Your Own Diary Entry
Get your notebook and pen. Your homework is to write your own short diary or blog entry (2-3 short paragraphs).
Choose ONE topic from your own life that happened recently:
- A meal you shared with family or friends.
- A conversation you had that made you think.
- A new place you visited in your town.
- Something interesting you saw on your way to work or school.
Structure your entry with an opening, a body describing what happened, and a closing reflection. Use the checklist and phrase bank to help you!
Vocabulary Glossary
- Diary / Journal Entry: (Noun) - កំណត់ហេតុប្រចាំថ្ងៃ - A piece of writing to record your personal thoughts, feelings, and experiences. ↩
- Blog Post: (Noun) - ប្រកាសប្លក់ - An entry written on a blog, which is a public, online journal. ↩
- Reflective: (Adjective) - បែបត្រិះរិះ - Relating to or characterized by deep thought. ↩
- Perspective: (Noun) - ទស្សនៈ - A particular way of thinking about something; a point of view. ↩
- Experience: (Noun) - បទពិសោធន៍ - An event or occurrence that leaves an impression on someone.