Grammar and Usage of our Language ?

Question

Has it gone forever ?
Are there teachers out there who teach grammar, for God's sake ?
Are teachers embarrased about this ?
My God ! How come that all this goofy lingo is about.
I am sorry, but it all just offends my eyeball !
All this mis-usage of our beautiful languge !

Please ! Please !
Can you state if you are a reacher.
This would be very interesting !

There are a number of very interesting answers, which makes it tough for me to select the best one.

Thank you for your answers.

Answer 1

I am a teacher of English as a foreign language in Spain. As a result I have to know grammar, spelling rules, punctuation and pronunciation (among others).
Fortunately our language will never completely disappear into the quagmire of SMS and street speak. This is because there are so many people trying to learn English correctly that eventually their level of English will put native speakers to shame.
Did you know that there are more Chinese learning English as a second language than there are Americans?
At least these students once they have achieved an upper intermediate level of English will be able to give you an example of a sentence using the present perfect continuous, or maybe the difference between especially and specially.
Our language is beautiful and it pains me to see it being abused by so many lazy people who can't be bothered to learn how to spell or even construct a sentence correctly.
Maybe the future of English lies with foreigners. Now isn't that a sad thought.

Answer 2

Well, I may be about to offend a number of people, but I think this might be a good opportunity to approach this subject. Phonics-Why did they stop teaching it? Grammar-Why has it disappeared from the curriculum of our public schools? Math-Why has it been de-emphasized? I think there just might be one answer for all of these questions! Someone (or someones) decided to bring the academic level of our children to a lower level. Why? Perhaps so that the masses aren't intelligent enough to think for themselves, and will just take the word of those who rule over them. This began in the mid part of the last century, and has continued since. I believe the home-school and private school movements are an excellent way to retaliate against this! Keep up the good work home school moms and private school teachers-fight the "system"! Teach children to think for themselves without swallowing all the garbage being thrown their way! A good book to read on this subject is, None Dare Call It Education.

Answer 3

The source of the problem? Political correctness. In schools these days children are not allowed to be winners or losers anymore, because it upsets the useless ones. Everyone has to be viewed as equals, which means the brighter youngsters are reduced to the level of the x-box playing overweight idiots rather than the other way round! Ever wondered why we haven't won the World Cup for a while? Political Correctness means we're not allowed to encourage talent anymore, rather we should hold back the outstanding individuals to bring them down to the mean level of competence! Can't talk English? No problem! We will praise you on your artistic interpretation of our language and encourage it, rather than tell you that you are wrong and risk a law-suit from your parents for causing you "emotional distress". By the way, all you internet users, this punctuation mark - "/" is called an oblique, not an effing "slash", that's what people do in the toilet when they haven't learned the word "urinate".

Answer 4

Teachers of the current average age were not taught grammar in school. Once again, the educational pendulum swung wide and grammar was left out of curriculum for a number of years. Those teachers are now uncomfortable teaching grammar to their own students because they simply don't understand it.

Also, the importance of grammar has shifted because we have come to appreciate that there are other concepts more important in writing, such as ideas, word choice, and voice. Grammar is only one component of good writing...so we don't focus on it.

English teacher

Answer 5

Yes grammar has gone forever judging from the level in this place but language is a living thing and should not held up as some kind of art form in which there is only one way to do it correctly. Expression and creativity should be held above the simplisic rules

Answer 6

I am a teacher and I EXPLICITLY teach grammar. I even go as far as when my student send e-mails that they are written in letter form. I can't stand how e-mail and the Internet have taken over proper writing. I feel that it is important to be able to communicate in a fashion that allows the person to sound somewhat intelligent!

Answer 7

The language of text speak and internet speak has intergrated itself into our culture. The abbrevaitions and shortcuts to words is taking over in many ways however as the parent of teenage children, all their work for school is written with the correct usage of English. It is not acceptable in schools but you can't stop it happening on the street.

Answer 8

I've given up on the school system. I'm teaching my children grammar, just like my parents and grandparents taught me (my grandmother used to send notes back regarding corrections to my letters).

Answer 9

I try to teach grammar on a regular basis, depending on schedules and such. However, if students don't know when it is appropriate to use shortened, slang-style language, they won't use proper grammar and spelling. Knowing grammar is one thing; using it is another. Most students need to be taught when they need to use proper grammar skills and when they can use slang and abbreviated language.

Answer 10

Eye totally agree wit ya, homey! Stick it man

Yeah.. I really do agree with you though. People just don't care about things as much as they used to, and proper language and ettiquette has been thrown out the window. I feel for you.
Good luck, I feel like I am going insane too.