"OMG! we were in class n d teacher was laughin so much she fell off d chair.was so funny LMAO!ROTFL!LOL!"
Translation:Oh my goodness!we were in class and the teacher was laughing so much she fell off the chair. It was so funny.Laugh my ass off!roll on the floor laughing!laugh out loud!
This language we can refer to as 'text language' this is the language that this generation is so accustomed.It has become so infectious that lecturers of tertiary education institutions complain that students are writing essays and using this infamous 'text language'.
I cannot imagine students doing this but because these students spend so much of the time talking to their friends on facebook or texting on their cellphones, this new written language becomes second nature and may just slip!
"A new study conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project has revealed that around two-thirds of middle school and high school pupils in the United States are guilty of incorporating lazy instant messaging (IM) and phone text language into their written work." "One in four respondents admitted to dropping emoticon symbols directly into their school work", some students even lament that they guilty of using digits in their essays but then when reading over come across the mistake and laugh to themselves.
How do you get students to separate text language with Standard English which should be used when writing letters and essays.
Reference: Smith, S.(2008)OMFG! Kids are using text language in written schoolwork
http://www.thetechherald.com/article.php/200818/824/OMFG-Kids-are-using-text-language-in-written-schoolwork
I feel that a plausible solution to the use of this new 'text language' in the student's written work is to improve students skill of editing and also to encourage editing at all times. Students,by observation, naturally edit their texts, may be this link might show students the need for editing within every writing experience.
ReplyDeleteQuestioning students to discover the reason they re-read texts before they send it to their friend could reiterate the fact that they need to edit their written work.
I have seen this often in students' writing in secondary schools and I agree that teachers must improve students' editing skills. I also want to add that students are more likely to use the language they are most comfortable and also use regularly. Therefore, students must learn to appreciate Standard English, its benefits to them and get regular oral practice in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteA Very interesting topic, that should take on a debate among students; so they will illustrate the advantages and disadvantages of this new found addiction.
ReplyDeleteI recommend that teacher ans students engage in purposeful writing activities that appeals to the writers interest. Allow the students to write for real audiences making full use of the Writing Process as well as the dogma of the six traits plus one of writing. In these writing ideologies students will edit and revise their work as well as pay attention to the conventions of writing. No one is capable of getting it right in one go, hence the reason writing is deemed a process.