Lower case i’s, numbers for words, partial words instead of full words, fragments. All are seen in papers turned in as final copies. Teachers say the texting generation can’t spell, and that’s a problem.
Freshman English teacher Heather Preston fears “that students will continue to use text speak in college and careers.” She believes that using the slang will be damaging to not only a student’s college experience, but to their future careers as well.
By using text slang in papers, students are hurting their grades. English teachers check papers for good writing habits. These habits stem to proper sentence structure, grammar use, and conventions.
“In English, we have to grade for grammar and conventions,” Preston said. “By using text speak, such as not capitalizing ‘I’, students show either lack of knowledge or lack of regard for grammar and conventions.”
With freshman classes, Preston has seen a fair share of papers with text slang in them. The usage of the slang has Preston wondering if the slang is “there on purpose, or if a student is so used to texting that it slips in.”
If using slang turns into a habit, it becomes a question whether it is just laziness or if it has become second nature. Preston believes it depends on the student.
“When slang is throughout the entire paper, I either attribute it to laziness or apathy,” Preston said. She said she usually attributes slang use to habit if it’s simply used as an odd word here or there.
Junior and senior English teacher Katy Katz “used to get that a lot from juniors.” She believes that when you’re typing on the computer, “you have a tendency to do the texting thing.”
“The effect of technology is having an effect on sentence quality,” Katz said. “You’ll see the ‘u r’ pop up a lot.”
Both teachers agree that it’s important to get in the habit of using proper grammar not only in high school, but also later in life.
“I expect all my students to be thinking about their future in college,” Preston said. “I try to let them know that forming good writing habits now will only help them in the future.”
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Text talk popping up in class assignments causes teachers to fear for students’ future careers
December 15, 2011
The student news publishing site of Rider High School in Wichita Falls, TX.