"Don't Get Mad, Get Creative!"

British Educators Angered by "Texting"It is during the editing and revising stages of a
I say "don't get mad, get creative!"by Erin Jansen,writing project that the switch needs to happen.
author "NetLingo The Internet Dictionary"andThe switch from using elements of text
Texting is a new form of online communication.shorthand to only standard English needs to
Texting is English that's been adapted to the rapidhappen. If the text shorthand still appears in the
fire conversational style of instant messaging.final draft, it is the educator's responsibility to
Commonly transmitted over cell phones or mobilework with the student to make sure this writing
devices, "texters" use the keypad to type writtenis translated or converted into proper English.
messages to each other."I see it as another opportunity to teach and
You've seen bits and pieces of it: brb, cul8r, lylas,learn," said a junior high teacher. Because texting
b4n, cu@8...is infiltrating students' schoolwork to such a large
It's one of the most popular sections ondegree, this kind of teaching is needed.
For teenagers, texting is like knowing anotherThe fact is kids are saying they are so
language. Since it is an online language, it is global inaccustomed to IM abbreviations (instant
nature and is quickly becoming a universal from ofmessaging), that they read right pass them when
English.editing their schoolwork. This indicates their ability
Given that you must type the messages,to separate formal and informal English is declining.
shortcuts have been created in an effort to typeIf educators choose to react with alarm or
more in less time. Shortcuts such as r, u, and b4dismay, or try to stifle it, or call this type of
make these text messages look like code, but inwriting rude (it is not rude), they are dismissing an
fact it is conversational writing.important opportunity to work with the student.
It is this kind of conversational writing that isThis type of response is the wrong response,
infiltrating students' schoolwork and educators areespecially from the teens' point of view.
wondering what to do about it. In a recentI advocate turning the issue of texting into a
interview with the BBC entitled "The Pedant'spositive. For example, establish a dialogue about
Revolt" I came face to face with those who fearthe evolution of language and use examples such
the Queen's English is losing her ground.as Shakespeare's delight in creating new words.
While everyone agrees that language evolves,This helps them see the broader picture and
there are groups of highly educated speakers andcreates an environment of respect.
professors who are dead set against theTeenagers have long pushed the boundaries of
presence of texting in schoolwork and who arespoken language, now they are pushing the
arguing for ways to stamp it out. My presence onboundaries of written language. It remains to be
the program, however, forced us to look at theseen if text shorthand is just a fad. To me it is a
cultural implications of online communication and tocousin of the acronym, which has been widely
look for creative ways to deal.used in the government, business and technology
It is not only a subculture of youths who aresectors for decades.
texting: 60% of the online population under age 17Let's also not forget that youths like the feeling
uses text messages (according to Nielson/Netof knowing something that not everyone knows
Ratings). They use it primarily to socialize andand sharing that with their friends. Remember the
communicate, in other words, for recreation.Internet and online communication is very real for
It is certainly true that at school, kids need tothem, they don't see it as a technological
know the difference between formal writing andrevolutionthey're actively using it everyday.
conversational writing. They need to know whereI challenge parents and educators to learn and
to draw the line between formal English andknow as much as they do about computers and
informal English.high-tech gadgets. I'd say the learning curve for
Before we solve the problem with text shorthandfeeling comfortable using the Internet and
found in schoolwork, I want parents andunderstanding the online lingo is pretty steep for
educators to realize and appreciate there is amany adults.
culture associated with this style of writing, andWhereas for teenagers, also knows as
that culture is important and meaningful to ourscreenagers, they've grown up or they're growing
youths.up with this technology that involves looking at a
After all, when kids use text messaging, they arecomputer screen instead of just a television
communicating and isn't that something everyscreen. In a sense they are helping create a new
parent wants to cultivate? Don't you want yourlingo and style of writing and that's empowering
child to express him or herself? To communicatefor them. So you see texting is an important part
more?of their culture.
The same is true for educators, after all, becauseThe Internet represents a new frontier, a place
of the Internet, kids are writing more than ever.where you can set aside the rules, especially the
Isn't that what every teacher wants, to get theirrules of grammar and punctuation, and instead
kids writing?create your own descriptive phrases and styles
Texting poses two major challenges for theof expression to give feeling in what is essentially
educator. One, should not be to overcome thisa two-dimensional written world. And therein lies
new abbreviated language, but rather find waysthe popularity of the emoticon :-)
to use it creatively.Another way to look at texting is to think of it as
The second challenge texting poses for educatorsan accent; a written accent. Teenagers have
is solved when teachers impress upon theirgotten comfortable with this kind of typing and
students that there is a clear distinction betweennow in school, they're not paying attention. It's
formal and conversational writing and that in class,just like with a spoken accent: You live
only formal writing is accepted in the final draft.somewhere long enough, you pick up the accent,
The opportunity exists to encourage students toand you don't even pay attention to it.
use text shorthand to spark their thinking process.So don't get mad, get creative and work
For example, when you're writing a first draft, it'stogether! It's that kind of response we'd rather
all about freeing up your creativity.teach our children anyway now isn't it?
A sixth grade teacher said "When my children areErin Jansen is an expert in online communication.
writing first drafts, I don't care how they spellShe is the author and publisher of "NetLingo The
anything, as long as they are writing. RememberInternet Dictionary" (ISBN: 0970639678) and
creative writing class? If this lingo gets their"NetLingo.com" a Top 1000 Web site as ranked
thoughts and ideas onto paper quicker, the moreby Google. Erin frequently speaks and writes
power to them."about online culture and technology trends.