Text Message Blog |
Teaching through text message
Cell phones emerge as learning tool
Students use it to communicate with friends. Parents use it to communicate with their children. Business people use it to communicate with colleagues.
Instructors at UNLV are now using text messaging as a tool to teach students about the English language.
Text messaging, which first appeared in instant messaging programs, has become very popular with more than 1 billion text messages sent each year. The short-hand lingo of text messaging or text-speak has its own dictionary. New abbreviations and acronyms are constantly being created. The popularity of text messaging has its language making its way into everyday life and students' work outside of the digital medium.
"I have seen it show up in tests," said Thomas Johnson, an English instructor at UNLV. "I usually see b/c for because, thx for thanks and 4 in the place of for."
These appearances of text- speak on tests and in the work of students may provide a valuable learning experience.
"A discussion about the differences between various slangs and 'standard English' built around that student's errors would be more than justified," Johnson said. "Because the material under discussion is more personal to the student than say a workbook page, that discussion would also be more meaningful."
Charlotte-Anne Lucas, visiting lecturer at the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies, has used text messaging to explain key concepts in journalistic writing.
"When I try to explain writing in active voice they don't understand," Lucas said. "But when I say write it like you would in a text message, they get it."
Some linguists are worried that the proliferation of text messaging among students may hurt the development of formal English. Johnson does not agree.
"I don't buy it," Johnson said. "I think students can distinguish between different contexts. What they would say with their friends is different from what they would say to an instructor."
Text messaging may be an important tool to help students learn the difference between different English and behaviors that are appropriate for different situations.
"Sure, text messaging can help teach that difference," Johnson said. "I would put the emphasis on explaining the importance of context."
In fact, Johnson says that text messaging may have a positive effect on language, especially with English as a second language students.
"ESL students have a harder time finding an environment in which they can use English," Johnson said. "Text messaging could give them the environment they need to foster good English."
Yun Moon, a sophomore at UNLV, agrees that text messaging has given her an outlet to use English.
"When I am with my Korean friends, I speak Korean," Moon said. "But when I text message, I use English."
Text messaging has not only given Moon a means to use English, but it has helped her to improve her use of English.
"When I speak English, I use a mix of Korean," Moon said. "But when I text message, it makes me use English instead of Korean-English."
Moon also finds text messaging to be an asset when it comes to her school work.
"I use it in my notes," Moon said. "It helps me to write faster."
Johnson thinks that slang is a good word to describe the abbreviated language of text messaging. Text-speak, he says, is a part of the natural progression of the English language.
"I don't think it will pass," Johnson said. "It's what makes English a living language."
Although text messaging may not be an evident problem in student papers, it does cause a distraction in the classroom. It can become a distraction to other students trying to pay attention in class, and it can also be distracting to the teacher as well.
"It is a distraction to myself," Johnson said. "Then I can't give all I need to the class."
Lucas agrees that text messaging can be a distraction.
"The problem is that it allows them to be rude and not pay attention," Lucas said. "They don't pay attention in class, driving or walking."
Lucas does not feel that text messaging deserves the bad rap that it has gotten.
"It's communicating," Lucas said. "I'm in favor of communicating; just don't be rude."
Text messaging is an easy and quick way to communicate with others. But students should take care to ensure that text speak does not appear in their work and to be considerate of others. There are things students can do to prevent the language of text messaging from creeping into their assignments.
"Patience, time, effort and remember the context," Johnson said. "The time and patience are to proofread."
http://archive.unlvrebelyell.com
Cell phones emerge as learning tool
Students use it to communicate with friends. Parents use it to communicate with their children. Business people use it to communicate with colleagues.
Instructors at UNLV are now using text messaging as a tool to teach students about the English language.
Text messaging, which first appeared in instant messaging programs, has become very popular with more than 1 billion text messages sent each year. The short-hand lingo of text messaging or text-speak has its own dictionary. New abbreviations and acronyms are constantly being created. The popularity of text messaging has its language making its way into everyday life and students' work outside of the digital medium.
"I have seen it show up in tests," said Thomas Johnson, an English instructor at UNLV. "I usually see b/c for because, thx for thanks and 4 in the place of for."
These appearances of text- speak on tests and in the work of students may provide a valuable learning experience.
"A discussion about the differences between various slangs and 'standard English' built around that student's errors would be more than justified," Johnson said. "Because the material under discussion is more personal to the student than say a workbook page, that discussion would also be more meaningful."
Charlotte-Anne Lucas, visiting lecturer at the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies, has used text messaging to explain key concepts in journalistic writing.
"When I try to explain writing in active voice they don't understand," Lucas said. "But when I say write it like you would in a text message, they get it."
Some linguists are worried that the proliferation of text messaging among students may hurt the development of formal English. Johnson does not agree.
"I don't buy it," Johnson said. "I think students can distinguish between different contexts. What they would say with their friends is different from what they would say to an instructor."
Text messaging may be an important tool to help students learn the difference between different English and behaviors that are appropriate for different situations.
"Sure, text messaging can help teach that difference," Johnson said. "I would put the emphasis on explaining the importance of context."
In fact, Johnson says that text messaging may have a positive effect on language, especially with English as a second language students.
"ESL students have a harder time finding an environment in which they can use English," Johnson said. "Text messaging could give them the environment they need to foster good English."
Yun Moon, a sophomore at UNLV, agrees that text messaging has given her an outlet to use English.
"When I am with my Korean friends, I speak Korean," Moon said. "But when I text message, I use English."
Text messaging has not only given Moon a means to use English, but it has helped her to improve her use of English.
"When I speak English, I use a mix of Korean," Moon said. "But when I text message, it makes me use English instead of Korean-English."
Moon also finds text messaging to be an asset when it comes to her school work.
"I use it in my notes," Moon said. "It helps me to write faster."
Johnson thinks that slang is a good word to describe the abbreviated language of text messaging. Text-speak, he says, is a part of the natural progression of the English language.
"I don't think it will pass," Johnson said. "It's what makes English a living language."
Although text messaging may not be an evident problem in student papers, it does cause a distraction in the classroom. It can become a distraction to other students trying to pay attention in class, and it can also be distracting to the teacher as well.
"It is a distraction to myself," Johnson said. "Then I can't give all I need to the class."
Lucas agrees that text messaging can be a distraction.
"The problem is that it allows them to be rude and not pay attention," Lucas said. "They don't pay attention in class, driving or walking."
Lucas does not feel that text messaging deserves the bad rap that it has gotten.
"It's communicating," Lucas said. "I'm in favor of communicating; just don't be rude."
Text messaging is an easy and quick way to communicate with others. But students should take care to ensure that text speak does not appear in their work and to be considerate of others. There are things students can do to prevent the language of text messaging from creeping into their assignments.
"Patience, time, effort and remember the context," Johnson said. "The time and patience are to proofread."
Example:
"Text PROMO to 63566 to join our list for special offers"
