While NCEA results are rising year by year, why does it seem that the general level of English in New Zealand, especially spelling, has declined?
There are many factors to consider when answering this question: the growth of web content, the popularity of social media and blogs, the spread of 'SMS' language and the use of emojis are just a few examples of factors that can affect our way to write.
While it may seem that the level of English has gone down across New Zealand, we have to ask ourselves whether technological advances aren't just making the weakness of language skills more obvious.
These days, people use the Internet for a variety of purposes: to find information on the symptoms of their illnesses, to find user manuals for products, to shop, etc. And in most cases, they are likely to find answers to their questions.
This is because the Internet offers everyone the opportunity to express themselves and share information with others through comments, forums, blogs, social media and independent websites.
It is this abundance of information that makes us rely more and more on the internet, and as a result, our screens will display more and more content in English and Maori. Furthermore, the amount of information available to us will probably only increase year by year, unless some serious problem affects the World Wide Web and it ceases to work.
If we go on the website of a newspaper such as NZ Herald, for example, we can see archived articles published over several years, and the newspaper goes on to publish more and more texts for its readers.
In reality, we can only imagine how many English-language texts are available from our computers and how many more will come out with time.
And we should remember that online content isn't always created by writers with linguistic education. Nowadays anyone can write a blog, post a tweet or publish a fiction story or a novel without having to do any studies.
Among this great variety of content appearing on our screens, there are undoubtedly numerous typos, grammatical errors and internet slang which gradually affect the level of literacy in New Zealand as more and more people read them.
Because of the ease with which one can express their thoughts online, the English language seems to have lost some of its value.
And the issue here isn't that errors have just become statistically much more present due to the volume of texts, but many (especially in the younger generation) read and write more and more online content, so they start seeing writing as a means of quick communication rather than a valuable skill to preserve.
Of course, the fact that more and more people are making the art of writing part of their daily lives is great, but in our opinion, it should remain an art and a skill that is valued by readers. Written manuscripts are among the most sacred artefacts associated with the history of humanity and have taught us much about life in other eras. The thought that our future generations will learn about 21st-century culture from texts riddled with errors and misinformation is very sad.
Also, English is considered the number one business language in the world, which makes it even more special, so it is very important that it is used correctly to maintain connections between countries.
Teaching our young generation to speak and, more importantly, write English well is a necessity not only for the future of our language as a means of communication but also for progress in other areas of work.
By helping all young people learn English and improve their communication and writing skills, we can stimulate creativity in them, which is essential for the development of our society in the future.
Another factor influencing having an impact on the level of writing skills in New Zealand is the spread of so-called SMS language, also known as "text language". This digital or internet version of English consists of many abbreviations, not only for individual words but also for whole sentences.
Some popular expressions include "BRB" (be right back), "LOL" (laughing out loud) and "TMI" (too much information). It is also possible to abbreviate longer phrases, such as "ICYMI" (in case you missed it).
With these expressions circulating on the Internet and in text and Whatsapp messages we send with our smartphones, there is no wonder that the English language is changing. The question is how seriously modern technology will affect the way we speak and write with time and where this evolution will lead us.
Currently, parents and 'older' people are trying to resist these new slang terms and not use them in their communication, but who knows it won't be the language of our future?
Add to the growth of abbreviated language the introduction of emojis and a whole new linguistic trend emerges.
A lot of texts published online contain spelling mistakes | Unsplash - Daniel Thomas
Some call emojis revolutionary, they represent a new way of communicating feelings and thoughts. While these images have changed the way text messages are sent, it is unclear whether everyone understands them the same way and whether this type of language can be enough for people to communicate effectively and for writers to write books in it.
Research on the use of emojis in written messages continues, and some are even exploring the possibility of sending entire texts using symbols thus creating a language that all can understand.
If it can work someday, this could create a new form of international communication, although many are those who point out that cultural and religious differences will come into play and make the whole idea impossible.
To make sure you have the best spelling of English words, book a lesson with a private English teacher.
Developing a standard, worldwide language may sound a bit utopian for the moment but technological inventions will certainly have an impact on our relationship with the language and determine whether spelling will preserve its importance in the years to come.
We at Superprof have brought together helpful tips for great essay-writing for you.
Should Schools Pay More Attention to Writing?
Back to the present day: we need to consider the role of schools and colleges in teaching good spelling habits to young generations of students. In the end, we first learn to read and write at school and only then start sending online messages.
People who receive higher education in the country continue their studies well beyond the age of 18 and often have to work with academic texts for years. As for primary and secondary education, it is simply essential to get the basic literacy and numeracy skills that we will use throughout our lives.
It is therefore essential that teachers do all they can to improve pupils' spelling levels and make them aware of the importance of being good writers.
Students taking English courses at school are generally divided into different classes, so all the learners in a course are supposed to have the same level of writing skills. But if for some reason, a student falls behind in class and is unable to deal with writing exercises and creative assignments anymore, there is little teachers can do.
This is because class time is reserved for specific tasks included in the curriculum and teachers can work personally with each student.
As a result, all students don't read enough in their free time and don't build good sentences using the right words
That's where private writing courses can help children and adults in our country become better writers. Whether the student wants to write a fiction novel, improve their spelling of English words or get better at essay writing teachers can help them by focusing on the exact skills they need.
Some might agree that a wholly different education system may need to be introduced in New Zealand to help pupils who are unable to keep pace, such as greater support for pupils with special needs and raising awareness of mental health problems and analysing the many other factors that can prevent a pupil from acquiring basic skills such as reading, writing grammar and the spelling of words.
Daily writing isn't only beneficial for your brain but can also help you improve your overall health.
Develop good writing skills and become a writer yourself one day | Unsplash - Jess Bailey
Making Things Change
Despite the fact that many pupils in our country end secondary education with excellent grades, the education system continues to be insufficient for many children and young people.
For instance, statistical studies have highlighted shortcomings in English language teaching for all ages, showing that the focus is clearly not on basic spelling and writing.
Among other things, they pointed out that school students with reading and writing problems at the beginning of school are likely to have a lot of difficulties catching up with their peers at later stages of education without supplementary help.
A possible solution could be to adapt the national curriculum to students' needs and set realistic English education targets. It is also important to improve English teachers' training in primary school to work effectively with the students who don't easily learn words and grammar and don't build proper sentences.
As for students who have already encountered difficulties with basic English, they can learn to write better under the guidance of a private tutor. Remember, even the most exceptional fiction writers weren't born with reading and writing skills.
I've always been a creative at heart, so writing came naturally to me. My love for words also translates to my passion in learning new languages, as uncovering new phrases and words in a different language is akin to travelling for me.
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