For students and teachers: Are school assignments being turned in that are written in "cyber-speak?

Question

ie: using internet acronyms and phonetic equivalents such as:
b = be
ur = you are
cuz = because
r = are
lol, etc

How do the teachers feel about it?
Can students go back and forth between proper grammar and lazy grammar?

Answer 1

I do not accept cyberspeak. I ask that all documents be turned in as attachments, not emails. The same grammar requirements apply that would apply to a hard copy paper. Cyberspeak is a bad habit and as an online college teacher, I encounter it often. The good news is once my students realize they can not speak that way , even online, they stop.

Answer 2

I have read about some schools that are experimenting with the idea of allowing cyber-speak in classroom assignments. Not so long ago, this was done in the form of allowing phonetic spelling. Both probably short change the students. After school is over and one is seeking employment or writing grant proposals, proper English will be required. cyber-speak is really just a kind of shorthand and has a place, online or for text messaging. Otherwise, it should not be used for formal writing.

Answer 3

I am pursuing my degree on-line and all my professors require proper grammar and spelling. I suspect you will find that teachers expect students to use proper grammar on assignments. Older students (those above elementary school-level) should be able to switch between proper and lazy grammar when needed for schoolwork. Younger students may have more trouble "turning off" the poor grammar and probably turn in "cyber-speak" more often.

Answer 4

When students are taking notes let them use b, r, and cuz. It creates a faster method for note taking and they still understand it. If they turn in a paper with such and if they just happen to put b once give them benefit of the doubt and don't count it wrong but make sure they use proper grammar as much as they can. If my students use such I just have my TA circle it in red and they can get points deducted for poor spelling.
GOOD LUCK!!!

Answer 5

I really can't tell you what you should or shouldn't do. I think you may want to ask yourself a few questions before you decide to do this. Are you comfortable with ANYONE knowing your pagan beliefts? Your mom? Your boss? Your children? Your significant other? Your friends (and enemas)? If you're comfortable with ALL of these people knowing this, then by all means, go ahead. You may want to ask for a copy of the paper that he will turn in and make sure you "approve" of it BEFORE it gets submitted. This way, if you are misquoted or you see that he is representing you in a negative light you can put the kabosh on it prior to submission. Good luck & have fun! : )

Answer 6

My English teachers say that if we were to us "Cyber-speak" then we would have to type the assignment all over again and have to type another assignment on "Why not to write in slang(Cyber-speak)." I think that this is a good Idea because the students should not write like this in formal and informal assignments or in speaking to anyone no matter if they know them or not.

Answer 7

As a teacher, it drives me nuts! Students are so used to writing "cyber-speak" that sometimes I don't think they can even spell simple words.

Answer 8

It is the most horrible distortion of the English language I have ever seen. It is worse than rap!
I hope all you teachers out there flunk every lazy bozo that uses that nonsensical 'cyberspeak.'

Answer 9

ya, being a teacher myself, i notice a lot of students writing their reports that way, and just as a spelling error, i mark it off as wrong, sorry, no love, although i use cyberspeak when i'm chatting with friends...

Answer 10

I do not accept it. And yes, it does appear in some of my assignments. So I refuse to correct any papers with it unless they redo it.