Instructors from two different disciplines collaborated to teach a preservice teacher education course examining the concepts of language and culture with the expectation that mindfulness-based reflective practice could enhance comprehension of course content and provide introspection for transformation. Two questions were studied: how to promote thoughtful reflection and how to effectively implement reflective journaling into a college classroom in a meaningful way. Twenty-seven student WordPress journals were analyzed through interpretive content analysis. By evaluating the journal posts, instructors were able to determine if the students understood course content and also gained valuable insight into students' cultural beliefs. The journals were effective teaching tools for understanding, and they also served as powerful assessment tools throughout the semester.