Language, or death thereof
By Jonathan S. Gamble, Staff Writer, Etownian.com

I try hard to write ‘you’ in three letters, spell out ‘be back soon’ and use ‘haha’ only when I’m actually laughing. If I have nothing else to say, why ‘lol’? Our written conversations have become like our fast food: expedient, artless, ephemeral.

If you liken American cuisine to modern communication, what role does the hamburger play? Senior occupational therapy major Sara Brown has an idea. “What is American food?” asked Brown. “It’s mostly a melting pot of multiple cultures. But the hamburger — that is a unique, convenient and delicious all-American addition to the culinary world. Acronyms are like the hamburger of modern communication. It is spoiling our appetite for proper grammar and speech.”

Visit www.aim.com/acronyms and you will find over 140 acronyms that will “help you type faster and decipher what people are saying.” Regarding text messaging, for example, I wish I’d ‘BTDTGTTSAWIO’; meaning, I wish I’d ‘been there, done that, got the t-shirt and wore it out.”

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How teaching English as a second language can be made interesting

By Chad DeBolt, ESL United

 For those people that come from foreign countries, English is not usually their first language. Even though there are some that can speak English, there are others that cannot or have limited use of the English language. So for somewhere such as the United States, knowing the English language is mandatory in order to move ahead, no matter what state you live in.

Having a program such as English Second Language, or ESL as it is commonly known as, is a lifesaver for many foreigners that need further assistance with their English. Teachers that teach English second language have to present it so that students will stay interested.
Here are some ways that can be done:

In order for students to learn, they have to be involved in what the teacher is doing. Teaching English Second Language should include activities. Activities that are hands-on are a great way to get them excited and interested. The teacher can have games or find something that will help them stay focused.

Students need to interact with the teacher as much as they can…

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