Using abbreviations online

[icomefromalanddownunder]

My daughters can hardly write in english anymore, with all the teaxt speak

What am I doing on-line? Avoiding the shoulder-high weeds in the garden and the eyebrow-high pile of marking I have to finish by close of play to tomorrow.

More and more of the assignments I am given to mark contain text speak, and I have resorted to marking in pencil, rather than red pen, so that I can erase some of the really sarcastic remarks that spill from my right hand. These are 2nd and 3rd year undergrad assignments, and I go into hiding when they are returned to author, as I can't cope with the hissy fits that ensue over them losing marks for poor spelling and grammar. My personal belief is that world peace could be achieved if everyone took enough time to truly understand what other people are trying to communicate (oh, and respected other's beliefs and personal space, and a few other things), but that mobile phones and txt spk are a weapon of terrorism, in that they promote misunderstanding.

Your responses, possums, in 5,000 words: double spaced and single-sided. No emailed assignments accepted
Oh, and the use of the odd comma and capital letter, with singular verbs matched with singular nouns, will help you over the pass mark.

[Mrs C.]

It`s nice to know it`s not just the U.K. then!

[Ruthie-Baby(old a/c)]

Singular verbs to match singular nouns? Whatever next?

Do you mean we can no longer say "None are..." and variants on that theme? How boring.

[Richard Ruck]

We is doomed, innit?

[Ruthie-Baby(old a/c)]

Fink so

[Richard Ruck]

These are 2nd and 3rd year undergrad assignments....

This is really depressing, isn't it? Do our various education systems just not care that they are churning out streams of nominally intelligent people who seem unable or unwilling to learn to use their native language?

The use of txtspk and its related horrors cannot excuse sloppy teaching and lazy learning.

Language is our tool for self-expression. I'm not imagining that schools and universities should be producing hordes of literary geniuses, but life can be problematic if one does not have the ability to express oneself clearly and concisely when required.

Dinosaur rant over - sorry!

[Ruthie-Baby(old a/c)]

These are 2nd and 3rd year undergrad assignments....

This is really depressing, isn't it? Do our various education systems just not care that they are churning out streams of nominally intelligent people who seem unable or unwilling to learn to use their native language?

The use of txtspk and its related horrors cannot excuse sloppy teaching and lazy learning.

Language is our tool for self-expression. I'm not imagining that schools and universities should be producing hordes of literary geniuses, but life can be problematic if one does not have the ability to express oneself clearly and concisely when required.

Dinosaur rant over - sorry!

If by dinosaur you mean you're old I'm sorry, that's not a good enough excuse. Because (sorry I know I shouldn't start a sentence with that!) I don't call myself old and I agree with you totally.

[icomefromalanddownunder]

This is really depressing, isn't it? Do our various education systems just not care that they are churning out streams of nominally intelligent people who seem unable or unwilling to learn to use their native language?

The use of txtspk and its related horrors cannot excuse sloppy teaching and lazy learning.

Language is our tool for self-expression. I'm not imagining that schools and universities should be producing hordes of literary geniuses, but life can be problematic if one does not have the ability to express oneself clearly and concisely when required.

Dinosaur rant over - sorry!

Dinosaurs unite

Sloppy teaching: giving explicit instructions as to how assignments are to be written and presented, marking accordingly, then adding marks when the students complain about their low marks. Actually, blaming PhD student who did the marking for not marking correctly, despite the fact that I follow the marking schedule which the undergrads are given, then awarding extra marks.

Lazy learning: 'You expect how many citations? Where am I supposed to find them? I'm expected to go where??????????/' (the Library).

Australian universities are keen to bring in students from overseas, as they pay higher fees. Doesn't seem to matter that they can't speak English, and cannot, therefore, understand what is presented in lectures, or produce comprehensible assignments. I am still expected to give them enough marks to pass.

Can't express themselves clearly and comprehensibly? No problem: just throw a hissy fit and threaten to complain to their embassy/daddy/MP. Works every time.

[Katharine]

Australian universities are keen to bring in students from overseas, as they pay higher fees. Doesn't seem to matter that they can't speak English, and cannot, therefore, understand what is presented in lectures, or produce comprehensible assignments. I am still expected to give them enough marks to pass.

Can't express themselves clearly and comprehensibly? No problem: just throw a hissy fit and threaten to complain to their embassy/daddy/MP. Works every time.

Not just Australian ones. At one point I was teaching in an American College in Malaysia. The students started their degrees living at home then transferred their credits to the States. I had one lad who produced excellent A Grade Maths for me but ... he could not speak more than a couple of words of English (yes & no) - either that or I frightened him witless!! I was very worried how he would cope when overseas and was told not to worry, it was nothing to do with me. That college was only interested in making money not in education. I did not stay there long!