Journal #7

"Is Chatspeak Destroying English?" Point/Counterpoint L&L November Issue

This brief article displays both proponents for and against chatspeak and usage of it within the classroom. There are educators that think chatspeak is the worst thing ever invented, on the flipside there are educators that feel as if students make a conscious decision to switch between chatpseak and normal English. Those who think chatspeak is destroying English comment about how they are concerned that students aren't learning how to express themselves through writing as they grow up. This will have a snowball effect on them in their adult lives when it comes to higher education and job interviews. Those who think chatspeak is not destroying English say that students "codeswitch" at will as a means to create a private language. It as a type of rebellious attitude that students and teens use to express themselves.

Questions:

1. Since chatspeak is popular with the advent of on-line games and text messaging, isn't it up to teachers to help re-enforce the appropriate time for usage of such a language?
I think that teachers need to be able to discuss when chatspeak is alright to use in social situations and when it is not appropriate to use. i think be doing this students will have a better understanding about the use of chatspeak within both the working and social environments. Being knowledgable about chatspeak is better than trying to brush it under the carpet as if it doesn't exist.

2. Can chatspeak be utilized as a form of communication between educator and student?
This is a kind of grey area for me. As a teacher i would want my own students to talk with respect and beable to express their ideas to me fully, not have me try to decifer chatspeak to determine what is being asked. I think that as long as the point is made about what is being said I don't have a problem with it. I think it would actually give me a way to better understand my students lives. Obviously not every student will communicate that way, but students are busy outside of school with extracurricular activities and if a text message is their only way of communicating with me then fine.