Writing for personal reasons

While Moo'ing last night, I brought up that writing for personal reasons would help in writing for academic purposes. Many comments were sent back to me about this, that there is no place for personal writing in the classroom for academic purposes. I disagree with this because I feel that any way that an individual can express themselves is a good expression, and then an academic focus can be developed from where they begin. I feel there is a level at which all students are at, and from their can go up. Perhaps it makes a difference if it is an L1 or L2. I feel that as an L2, a student will start at point X, they will build their own confidence in writing in a second language, especially English. Perhaps others thought for the purposes of ENGL 191 purposes. When I took ENGL 191, I knew there were no writings on personal topics, but a large research paper was involved. When I enrolled in the TESL program and saw the program requirements and essay formats they will learn, they most often begin with a narrative essay. Therefore, in this purpose, writing for personal expression in a part of the required assignments. From there, they will learn how to write in a more academic way in that the instructor will still look at, read, and "correct" their paper. So, perhaps in MOO I was not very clear as to in what context I was referring personal writing benefitting students the most.