Some of you may have already been there, but I recently started a joint blog between myself, other staff and some of the more advanced creative writers at my school. The response was very positive and students are "writing" in their own leisure time- thus far, I'm willing to say that it has been a success. Every night I rush home to heck if anyone else has posted and their leads and ideas spark me to write my own piece and so it continues. (The address is www.chicfiction.blogspot.com for those who haven't been there. ) One of our posters/bloggers, uses her own form of Englihs. The abbreviated version, the txt gen version, the m8, h8, gr8 version. And it has me wondering, seeing that I was her English teacher last year, have I failed her??? Should she know how to use talking makrs, capitals and correct spelling? Or is it enough that i connected with her creativity and encouraged that, enough to have a relationship with her now that allows her to join in this communal blogging? An act which she does willingly and voluntarily OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS! Perhaps the way I stumble over some of her expressions as my brain tries to interpret them is not an issue for her, but rather for me. I haven't learnt to read her language....not her unable to write my language. I guess, I would never expect a Vietnamese person to be able to read Croatian without any former practice and certainly wouldn't criticise the writer for not writing in a language that I can understand. Is it the same with this girl's language? Is it my responsibility to learn it, to be able to appreciate it. These are some questions that I am asking as I read on. On the other hand, there are students there who were in my English classes last year and are writing flawlessly- perfect spelling, perfect punctuation. Who knows how much of this they learnt in my class?
I'm still working on the answers...
Until next blog...
M x
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1 comment:
I think that is a great question and possibly honest feedback to her about your struggle. I am also a teacher and I strive above all else for students to enjoy reading and writing and speaking and listening, but they need to be clear about their audience. If she is aiming to communicate with others her age, she is probably hitting the mark and you would (as an adult) need to learn her language. If she is hoping to have a larger audience then she would need the honest feedback that her abbreviations are difficult for many to understand. My opinion for what it's worth!
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