The Reading / Listening - Text Abbreviations - Level 6

A new study suggests that people who abbreviate their text messages might seem insincere. In addition, they might be less likely to receive replies. Researchers from Stanford University in the USA and the University of Toronto in Canada analyzed 5,000 text messages to gauge the impact of abbreviations. Test participants had to rate their perceived sincerity of messages with and without abbreviations. They also evaluated their likelihood of responding. The researchers said: "Abbreviations make senders seem less sincere and recipients less likely to write back." They added: "Abbreviations signal a lower level of effort from the sender."

Abbreviations in text messages and social media comments have evolved into a distinct genre of writing. The first text message was sent in 1992. Since then, a system of abbreviated text has developed that is largely understood and widely used. Many abbreviations are now in dictionaries. Truncated terms like "fyi," "cul8r," and "imho" are commonplace in text messages. Of course, these mean "for your information," "see you later," and "in my humble opinion". Researcher David Fang said: "We thought texters might like abbreviations because they would convey an informal sense of closeness, so we were surprised that abbreviations elicited negative perceptions about people who use them."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Text Abbreviations - Level 4  or  Text Abbreviations - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/nov/14/using-abbreviations-in-messages-comes-across-as-idrc-study-finds
  • https://scitechdaily.com/the-common-texting-habit-that-could-be-undermining-your-sincerity/
  • https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2024/11/texting-abbreviations-insincere


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. TEXT ABBREVIATIONS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about text abbreviations. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       study / abbreviation / text messages / impact / sincerity / likelihood / write / effort
       social media / genre of writing / dictionaries / opinion / texters / closeness / sense
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. DAMAGE: Students A strongly believe text message abbreviations will damage the quality of written English; Students B strongly believe not. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. WRITTEN LANGUAGE: How important are these forms of writing? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How Important?

Your Ability

Academic essays

 

 

Stories

 

 

Letters

 

 

Social media posts

 

 

Text messages

 

 

Job applications

 

 
MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. MESSAGE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "message". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. WRITING: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important reasons for writing at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • To-do lists
  • Social media posts
  • Letters
  • Homework
  • Reports
  • Essays
  • Text messages
  • Internet searches

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. abbreviate a. The chance or possibility that something will happen.
      2. insincere b. A sign or action that gives information, or to give a sign or message.
      3. gauge  (verb) c. To make a word or phrase shorter by using only the first few letters or parts of the word.
      4. perceived d. Not being honest or truthful; when someone doesn't really mean what they say.
      5. likelihood e. How something is understood or thought of by people.
      6. recipients f. People who receive something, like a gift or a message.
      7. signal  (verb) g. To measure or find out how much or how good something is.

    Paragraph 2

      8. evolved h. To show or express something.
      9. distinct i. Not thinking you are better than others; modest.
      10. genre j. Shortened by cutting off part of something.
      11. truncated k. Changed or developed over a long period of time.
      12. humble l. Caused a reaction or response.
      13. convey m. Clearly different or easy to notice.
      14. elicited n. A type or category of something, especially music, books, or movies.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The article says people who use abbreviations are insecure.     T / F
  2. Researchers analyzed 50,000 text messages.     T / F
  3. People who use abbreviations are less likely to get a reply.     T / F
  4. Researchers say abbreviation indicate less effort from the writer. T / F
  5. The writing in text messages is now a distinct genre of writing.     T / F
  6. The first ever text message was sent in the 1970s.     T / F
  7. Text message abbreviations are yet to be put in dictionaries.     T / F
  8. Researchers said they thought texters would like abbreviations.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. abbreviate
  2. replies
  3. gauge
  4. likelihood
  5. signal
  6. evolved
  7. distinct
  8. humble
  9. convey
  10. negative
  1. probability
  2. communicate
  3. developed
  4. answers
  5. separate
  6. adverse
  7. shorten
  8. show
  9. respectful
  10. measure

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. they might be less likely
  2. gauge the impact
  3. participants had to rate their perceived
  4. They also evaluated their likelihood
  5. Abbreviations signal a lower
  6. social media comments have
  7. a distinct
  8. largely understood and
  9. they would convey an
  10. abbreviations elicited negative
  1. sincerity
  2. widely used
  3. to receive replies
  4. informal sense of closeness
  5. of abbreviations
  6. of responding
  7. perceptions about people
  8. genre of writing
  9. evolved
  10. level of effort

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
replies
rate
signal
abbreviate
recipients
gauge
insincere
likelihood

A new study suggests that people who (1) _________________________________ their text messages might seem (2) _________________________________. In addition, they might be less likely to receive (3) _________________________________. Researchers from Stanford University in the USA and the University of Toronto in Canada analyzed 5,000 text messages to (4) _________________________________ the impact of abbreviations. Test participants had to (5) _________________________________ their perceived sincerity of messages with and without abbreviations. They also evaluated their (6) _________________________________ of responding. The researchers said: "Abbreviations make senders seem less sincere and (7) _________________________________ less likely to write back." They added: "Abbreviations (8) _________________________________ a lower level of effort from the sender."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
commonplace
widely
distinct
convey
opinion
terms
negative
system

Abbreviations in text messages and social media comments have evolved into a (9) _________________________________ genre of writing. The first text message was sent in 1992. Since then, a (10) _________________________________ of abbreviated text has developed that is largely understood and (11) _________________________________ used. Many abbreviations are now in dictionaries. Truncated (12) _________________________________ like "fyi," "cul8r," and "imho" are (13) _________________________________ in text messages. Of course, these mean "for your information," "see you later," and "in my humble (14) _________________________________". Researcher David Fang said: "We thought texters might like abbreviations because they would (15) _________________________________ an informal sense of closeness, so we were surprised that abbreviations elicited (16) _________________________________ perceptions about people who use them."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  A new study suggests that people who ______
     a.  abbreviate pretext
     b.  abbreviate context
     c.  abbreviate their text
     d.  abbreviate in text
2)  In addition, they might be less likely ______
     a.  to receiver replies
     b.  to re-sieve replies
     c.  to receive replies
     d.  to recede replies
3)  Test participants had to rate ______
     a.  their perceived sincerity
     b.  their perceived sincerely
     c.  their perceived since rarity
     d.  their perceive sincerity
4)  Abbreviations make senders seem less sincere and recipients less ______
     a.  likelihood to write
     b.  like little write
     c.  likely too write
     d.  likely to write
5)  They added: "Abbreviations signal a lower ______"
     a.  level of effort
     b.  level off effort
     c.  level oft effort
     d.  levels of effort

6)  social media comments have evolved into a distinct ______
     a.  genre of written
     b.  genre of write in
     c.  genre of writing
     d.  genre of wry tin
7)  a system of abbreviated text has developed that ______
     a.  is largely overstood
     b.  is largely understood
     c.  is largely udder stood
     d.  is largely understand
8)  Many abbreviations are now in dictionaries. Truncated ______
     a.  terms alike "fyi"
     b.  term like "fyi"
     c.  terms likes "fyi"
     d.  terms like "fyi"
9)  "for your information," "see you later," and "in ______"
     a.  my humble opining
     b.  my humble opine on
     c.  my humble opening
     d.  my humble opinion
10)  texters might like abbreviations because they would convey an informal ______
     a.  sense oft closeness
     b.  sense off closeness
     c.  cents of closeness
     d.  sense of closeness

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A new study suggests that people (1) _______________________________________________ text messages (2) _______________________________________________. In addition, they might be less likely (3) _______________________________________________. Researchers from Stanford University in the USA and the University of Toronto in Canada analyzed 5,000 text messages to (4) _______________________________________________ of abbreviations. Test participants had to rate their perceived sincerity of messages with and without abbreviations. They also (5) _______________________________________________ of responding. The researchers said: "Abbreviations make senders seem less sincere and recipients less likely to write back." They added: "Abbreviations (6) _______________________________________________ level of effort from the sender."

Abbreviations (7) _______________________________________________ and social media comments have evolved into a (8) _______________________________________________ writing. The first text message was sent in 1992. Since then, a system of abbreviated text has developed that is largely understood and widely used. Many abbreviations are now in dictionaries. Truncated terms like "fyi," "cul8r," and "imho" are (9) _______________________________________________ messages. Of course, these mean "for your information," "see you later," and "in (10) _______________________________________________". Researcher David Fang said: "We thought texters might like abbreviations because they would (11) _______________________________________________ sense of closeness, so we were surprised that abbreviations (12) _______________________________________________ about people who use them."

Comprehension questions

  1. What might people who use abbreviations be less likely to receive?
  2. Where are the researchers from besides Stanford University?
  3. How many text messages did test participants look at?
  4. What did test participants evaluate the likelihood of?
  5. What do abbreviations show a lower level of from text writers?
  6. What has the language in text messages evolved into?
  7. What happened in 1992?
  8. What does the abbreviation "cul8r" mean?
  9. What did a researcher think texters might like?
  10. What did abbreviations elicit among people who use them?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What might people who use abbreviations be less likely to receive?
a) money
b) friends
c) responses
d) likes
2) Where are the researchers from besides Stanford University?
a) University of Toronto
b) Oxford University
c) M.I.T.
d) New York University
3) How many text messages did test participants look at?
a) five thousand
b) fifteen thousand
c) fifty thousand
d) five-hundred thousand
4) What did test participants evaluate the likelihood of?
a) banning abbreviations
b) responding
c) banning social media
d) liking posts
5) What do abbreviations show a lower level of from text writers?
a) mistakes
b) respect
c) intelligence
d) effort

6) What has the language in text messages evolved into?
a) hieroglyphics
b) a distinct genre of writing
c) code
d) new words
7) What happened in 1992?
a) The first text message was sent.
b) Social media was born.
c) Schools banned abbreviations in essays
d) The Internet started.
8) What does the abbreviation "cul8r" mean?
a) could you pass me the ladder
b) cull eight rats
c) see you later
d) culture
9) What did a researcher think texters might like?
a) middle English
b) ancient Egyptian
c) Morse code
d) abbreviations
10) What did abbreviations elicit among people who use them?
a) negative perceptions
b) deepened respect
c) greater curiosity
d) incorrect answers

Role play

Role  A – To-do Lists
You think to-do lists are the most important things we write. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): social media posts, essays or text messages.

Role  B – Social Media Posts
You think social media posts are the most important things we write. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): to-do lists, essays or text messages.

Role  C – Essays
You think essays are the most important things we write. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): social media posts, to-do lists or text messages.

Role  D – Text Messages
You think text messages are the most important things we write. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): social media posts, essays or to-do lists.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'abbreviation'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'text'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • suggests
    • less
    • gauge
    • likelihood
    • seem
    • effort
    • genre
    • 1992
    • largely
    • mean
    • opinion
    • sense

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Text Abbreviations

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'abbreviation'?
    3. What do you think of abbreviations?
    4. How often do you abbreviate text in messages?
    5. Are there any abbreviations you love or hate?
    6. Do you think text with abbreviations is less sincere?
    7. Are you less likely to reply if someone uses abbreviations?
    8. How often do you send text messages?
    9. Do you prefer texting or writing?
    10. Should we discourage the use of abbreviations?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'message'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of the new genre of abbreviation-based writing?
    5. What do you think of social media?
    6. Do you ever not understand the abbreviations in texts?
    7. How will abbreviations change the future of writing?
    8. What are the dangers of using abbreviations?
    9. Do abbreviations show a degree of closeness between people?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    A new study suggests that people who (1) ____ their text messages might seem insincere. In addition, they might be less (2) ____ to receive replies. Researchers from Stanford University in the USA and the University of Toronto in Canada analyzed 5,000 text messages to (3) ____ the impact of abbreviations. Test participants had to rate their perceived (4) ____ of messages with and without abbreviations. They also evaluated their likelihood of responding. The researchers said: "Abbreviations make senders seem less sincere and (5) ____ less likely to write back." They added: "Abbreviations signal a (6) ____ level of effort from the sender."

    Abbreviations in text messages and social media comments have evolved (7) ____ a distinct genre of writing. The first text message was sent in 1992. Since then, a system of abbreviated text has developed that is (8) ____ understood and widely used. Many abbreviations are now in dictionaries. Truncated terms like "fyi," "cul8r," and "imho" are (9) ____ in text messages. Of course, these mean "for your information," "see you later," and "in my (10) ____ opinion". Researcher David Fang said: "We thought texters might like abbreviations because they would (11) ____ an informal sense of closeness, so we were surprised that abbreviations (12) ____ negative perceptions about people who use them."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     enunciate     (b)     abbreviate     (c)     elucidate     (d)     inebriate    
    2. (a)     liked     (b)     liking     (c)     likely     (d)     likelihood    
    3. (a)     gorge     (b)     gouge     (c)     gauge     (d)     gage    
    4. (a)     sincerest     (b)     sincerely     (c)     sincerely     (d)     sincerity    
    5. (a)     incipience     (b)     reticence     (c)     recipients     (d)     occupants    
    6. (a)     lowed     (b)     lower     (c)     lows     (d)     allow    
    7. (a)     unto     (b)     into     (c)     onto     (d)     as to    
    8. (a)     biggish     (b)     largely     (c)     lots     (d)     sizeable    
    9. (a)     commotion     (b)     commoner     (c)     commonplace     (d)     commonness    
    10. (a)     honour     (b)     horrific     (c)     holy     (d)     humble    
    11. (a)     curvy     (b)     scurvy     (c)     survey     (d)     convey    
    12. (a)     solicited     (b)     collided     (c)     elided     (d)     elicited

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. their text messages might seem ierienscn
    2. nlaeyzad 5,000 text messages
    3. ugeag the impact
    4. rate their epcveirde sincerity
    5. evaluated their ollkodehii of responding
    6. senrieitcp less likely to write back

    Paragraph 2

    1. social media comments have dovlvee
    2. a distinct neegr of writing
    3. a system of abebetrvdia text
    4. untecatdr terms like "fyi"
    5. yonvec an informal sense of closeness
    6. abbreviations tileeidc negative perceptions

    Put the text back together

    (...)   Abbreviations in text messages and social media comments have evolved into a distinct genre
    (...)   "for your information," "see you later," and "in my humble opinion". Researcher David Fang said: "We thought
    (...)   added: "Abbreviations signal a lower level of effort from the sender."
    (...)   insincere. In addition, they might be less likely to receive replies. Researchers from Stanford University
    (...)   in the USA and the University of Toronto in Canada analyzed 5,000 text messages to gauge
    (...)   of writing. The first text message was sent in 1992. Since then, a system of abbreviated text has
    (...)   dictionaries. Truncated terms like "fyi," "cul8r," and "imho" are commonplace in text messages. Of course, these mean
    (  1  )   A new study suggests that people who abbreviate their text messages might seem
    (...)   developed that is largely understood and widely used. Many abbreviations are now in
    (...)   surprised that abbreviations elicited negative perceptions about people who use them." 
    (...)   make senders seem less sincere and recipients less likely to write back." They
    (...)   without abbreviations. They also evaluated their likelihood of responding. The researchers said: "Abbreviations
    (...)   texters might like abbreviations because they would convey an informal sense of closeness, so we were
    (...)   the impact of abbreviations. Test participants had to rate their perceived sincerity of messages with and

    Put the words in the right order

    1. insincere   .   their   text   seem   messages   abbreviate   who   People
    2. less   might   likely   They   be   to   replies   .   receive
    3. text   the   to   gauge   impact   .   Analyzed   messages   5,000
    4. rated   sincerity   messages   .   the   Test   participants   of   perceived
    5. effort   .   Abbreviations   signal   of   a   lower   level
    6. Comments   into   genre   of   a   distinct   writing   .   evolved
    7. system   A   abbreviated   of   has   developed   .   text
    8. He   texters   might   said   we   thought   abbreviations   .   like
    9. sense   convey   closeness   .   an   of   would   They   informal
    10. that  negative  abbreviations  of  perceptions  Surprised  people  . elicited

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A new study ingests / suggests that people who abbreviate their text messages might seem insincere. In addition / additionally, they might be less likely / liked to receive replies. Researchers from Stanford University in the USA and the University of Toronto in Canada analyzed 5,000 text messages to gouge / gauge the impact of abbreviations. Test participants had to rate their perceived sincere / sincerity of messages with and without abbreviations. They also evaluated / valued their likelihood to / of responding. The researchers said: "Abbreviations mark / make senders seem less sincere and recipients less / lest likely to write back." They added: "Abbreviations signal a lower level of affront / effort from the sender."

    Abbreviations on / in text messages and social media comments have evolved into a distant / distinct genre of writing. The first text message was sent in 1992. Since that / then, a system of abbreviated text has developed that is largely understanding / understood and widely / widening used. Many abbreviations are now at / in dictionaries. Truncated terms like "fyi," "cul8r," and "imho" are commonplace in / by text messages. Of course, these meant / mean "for your information," "see you later," and "in my humble opinion". Researcher David Fang said: "We thought texters might like abbreviations because they would convey an informal sense / scent of closeness, so we were surprised that abbreviations eluded / elicited negative perceptions about people who use them."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    _  n_w  st_dy  s_gg_sts  th_t  p__pl_  wh_  _bbr_v__t_  th__r  t_xt  m_ss_g_s  m_ght  s__m  _ns_nc_r_.  _n  _dd_t__n,  th_y  m_ght  b_  l_ss  l_k_ly  t_  r_c__v_  r_pl__s.  R_s__rch_rs  fr_m  St_nf_rd  _n_v_rs_ty  _n  th_  _S_  _nd  th_  _n_v_rs_ty  _f  T_r_nt_  _n  C_n_d_  _n_lyz_d  5,000  t_xt  m_ss_g_s  t_  g__g_  th_  _mp_ct  _f  _bbr_v__t__ns.  t_st  p_rt_c_p_nts  h_d  t_  r_t_  th__r  p_rc__v_d  s_nc_r_ty  _f  m_ss_g_s  w_th  _nd  w_th__t  _bbr_v__t__ns.  Th_y  _ls_  _v_l__t_d  th__r  l_k_l_h__d  _f  r_sp_nd_ng.  Th_  r_s__rch_rs  s__d:  "_bbr_v__t__ns  m_k_  s_nd_rs  s__m  l_ss  s_nc_r_  _nd  r_c_p__nts  l_ss  l_k_ly  t_  wr_t_  b_ck."  Th_y  _dd_d:  "_bbr_v__t__ns  s_gn_l  _  l_w_r  l_v_l  _f  _ff_rt  fr_m  th_  s_nd_r."

    _bbr_v__t__ns  _n  t_xt  m_ss_g_s  _nd  s_c__l  m_d__  c_mm_nts  h_v_  _v_lv_d  _nt_  _  d_st_nct  g_nr_  _f  wr_t_ng.  Th_  f_rst  t_xt  m_ss_g_  w_s  s_nt  _n  1992.  S_nc_  th_n,  _  syst_m  _f  _bbr_v__t_d  t_xt  h_s  d_v_l_p_d  th_t  _s  l_rg_ly  _nd_rst__d  _nd  w_d_ly  _s_d.  M_ny  _bbr_v__t__ns  _r_  n_w  _n  d_ct__n_r__s.  Tr_nc_t_d  t_rms  l_k_  "fy_,"  "c_l8r,"  _nd  "_mh_"  _r_  c_mm_npl_c_  _n  t_xt  m_ss_g_s.  _f  c__rs_,  th_s_  m__n  "f_r  y__r  _nf_rm_t__n,"  "s__  y__  l_t_r,"  _nd  "_n  my  h_mbl_  _p_n__n".  R_s__rch_r  D_v_d  F_ng  s__d:  "W_  th__ght  t_xt_rs  m_ght  l_k_  _bbr_v__t__ns  b_c__s_  th_y  w__ld  c_nv_y  _n  _nf_rm_l  s_ns_  _f  cl_s_n_ss,  s_  w_  w_r_  s_rpr_s_d  th_t  _bbr_v__t__ns  _l_c_t_d  n_g_t_v_  p_rc_pt__ns  _b__t  p__pl_  wh_  _s_  th_m."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a new study suggests that people who abbreviate their text messages might seem insincere in addition they might be less likely to receive replies researchers from stanford university in the usa and the university of toronto in canada analyzed 5000 text messages to gauge the impact of abbreviations test participants had to rate their perceived sincerity of messages with and without abbreviations they also evaluated their likelihood of responding the researchers said abbreviations make senders seem less sincere and recipients less likely to write back they added abbreviations signal a lower level of effort from the sender

    abbreviations in text messages and social media comments have evolved into a distinct genre of writing the first text message was sent in 1992 since then a system of abbreviated text has developed that is largely understood and widely used many abbreviations are now in dictionaries truncated terms like fyi cul8r and imho are commonplace in text messages of course these mean for your information see you later and in my humble opinion researcher david fang said we thought texters might like abbreviations because they would convey an informal sense of closeness so we were surprised that abbreviations elicited negative perceptions about people who use them

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Anewstudysuggeststhatpeoplewhoabbreviatetheirtextmessagesmi
    ghtseeminsincere.Inaddition,theymightbelesslikelytoreceivereplies
    .ResearchersfromStanfordUniversityintheUSAandtheUniversityofT
    orontoinCanadaanalyzed5,000textmessagestogaugetheimpactofa
    bbreviations.Testparticipantshadtoratetheirperceivedsincerityofme
    ssageswithandwithoutabbreviations.Theyalsoevaluatedtheirlikelih
    oodofresponding.Theresearcherssaid:"Abbreviationsmakesenderss
    eemlesssincereandrecipientslesslikelytowriteback."Theyadded:"Ab
    breviationssignalalowerlevelofeffortfromthesender."Abbreviationsi
    ntextmessagesandsocialmediacommentshaveevolvedintoadistinct
    genreofwriting.Thefirsttextmessagewassentin1992.Sincethen,asys
    temofabbreviatedtexthasdevelopedthatislargelyunderstoodandwid
    elyused.Manyabbreviationsarenowindictionaries.Truncatedtermslik
    e"fyi,""cul8r,"and"imho"arecommonplaceintextmessages.Ofcourse
    ,thesemean"foryourinformation,""seeyoulater,"and"inmyhumbleo
    pinion".ResearcherDavidFangsaid:"Wethoughttextersmightlikeabb
    reviationsbecausetheywouldconveyaninformalsenseofcloseness,so
    weweresurprisedthatabbreviationselicitednegativeperceptionsabou
    tpeoplewhousethem."

    Free writing

    Write about text abbreviations for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    We must all stop using abbreviations in text messages. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. TEXT ABBREVIATIONS: Make a poster about text abbreviations. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. BAN: Write a magazine article about banning text abbreviations. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on text abbreviations. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on abbreviations. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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