Kids Write More, Gain Ease With Language, Through Texting
This article looked at the link between texting and writing. In general, it is felt that students are writing more than ever before, even though that writing is highly unstructured and often ignores grammatical conventions and spelling. Educators are faced with the dilemma of deciding whether or not to embrace this phenomenon and leverage it, or to ban it from use in the school setting. On the positive side, kids that text are often very comfortable with communication and self-expression at a very young age. Kristen Turner, an assistant professor of English at Fordham University, states “Adolescents may not consider their [texting] to be writing, but it takes skill and creativity in order to manipulate language so you can be understood by your peers. [Texting allows them] to experiment with language, have a unique voice, and be part of a community.” The very nature of texting also helps students to become concise with thoughts, although some adults also feel this creates students who do not think or communicate very deeply. Finally, texting reinforces the reality that language is not static, but rather it is dynamic and constantly evolving.
Challenges of the texting revolution include teaching students the importance of knowing the type of writing style to use in different situations. Students must be taught that the informal style used in texting is not acceptable for formal writing situations. Since some students have difficulty embracing this concept, educators opposed to texting feel valuable instruction time is wasted correcting bad habits developed from texting versus developing better writers. Even students agree that communicating feelings and tone is difficult when texting, and too many young people rely on symbols to communicate these emotions. Unfortunately, those options are not available for formal writing.
Regardless of personal opinion, it appears the act of texting as a form of writing and communication will not be fading away anytime soon. For that reason alone, it is important to teach students that different purposes require different writing skills so they can be successful regardless of the setting. Finally, as summarized by David Crystal, a world-renowned linguist, “Educators will get better results if they work with the kids, not against them, respecting their technology, not banning it.”
This article looked at the link between texting and writing. In general, it is felt that students are writing more than ever before, even though that writing is highly unstructured and often ignores grammatical conventions and spelling. Educators are faced with the dilemma of deciding whether or not to embrace this phenomenon and leverage it, or to ban it from use in the school setting.
On the positive side, kids that text are often very comfortable with communication and self-expression at a very young age. Kristen Turner, an assistant professor of English at Fordham University, states “Adolescents may not consider their [texting] to be writing, but it takes skill and creativity in order to manipulate language so you can be understood by your peers. [Texting allows them] to experiment with language, have a unique voice, and be part of a community.” The very nature of texting also helps students to become concise with thoughts, although some adults also feel this creates students who do not think or communicate very deeply. Finally, texting reinforces the reality that language is not static, but rather it is dynamic and constantly evolving.
Challenges of the texting revolution include teaching students the importance of knowing the type of writing style to use in different situations. Students must be taught that the informal style used in texting is not acceptable for formal writing situations. Since some students have difficulty embracing this concept, educators opposed to texting feel valuable instruction time is wasted correcting bad habits developed from texting versus developing better writers. Even students agree that communicating feelings and tone is difficult when texting, and too many young people rely on symbols to communicate these emotions. Unfortunately, those options are not available for formal writing.
Regardless of personal opinion, it appears the act of texting as a form of writing and communication will not be fading away anytime soon. For that reason alone, it is important to teach students that different purposes require different writing skills so they can be successful regardless of the setting. Finally, as summarized by David Crystal, a world-renowned linguist, “Educators will get better results if they work with the kids, not against them, respecting their technology, not banning it.”
Stern, Gary. (2011, March 2). Kids write more, gain ease with language, through texting. Lohud.com, A Gannett Company. Retrieved March 15, 2011, from http://www.lohud.com/article/20110303/NEWS01/103030397/Kids-write-more-gain-ease-language-through-texting