Education and Science

Texting is undoubtedly a popular form of modern communication. Could the overuse or overindulgence of texting however, create a problem for employment or educational imbalance? Beyond traditional letter writing, telephone conversations, stenography or Morse code, the sophistication of communicating in all realms of society is mind-boggling. While every generation has its own slang or colloquial speech, we must be cognizant of the appropriate dialogue to use with specific applications.There is increased conversation and debate about the perils of texting. Many kids in particular, become more dependent on the speed, language and convenience of texting. Oftentimes, spelling is challenged due to the overuse of instant abbreviated messaging and less on how to effectively utilize the principles of oral and written communications. Texting has become an everyday habitual obsession, as opposed to using this form occasionally. For those who religiously text every day, do you think this affects your writing and spelling skills?In areas where employment opportunities are available, some reports are finding that employers cannot fill these positions due to a communication impediment. In other words, employers witness many young candidates in particular, applying for jobs, who are unable to fill out a job application clearly and completely. Their use of text language, unrecognizable acronyms, lack of adequate communication skills and inappropriate interviewing attire, spills over into a more formal or professional setting where such things are deemed unacceptable. Their lack of preparation works against them. Some organizations recognize that this is a problem beyond school classrooms and are implementing community programs to help these students get better prepared in effective communication and job preparation.Our society is surrounded by shorter and quicker methods of gaining access to information, communicating and responding to certain calls for action. Teens aren’t the only ones facing shorthanded catastrophe due to a lack of preparation skills and communication. When adults are unable to complete the employment process not associated with foreign language linguistics, it is usually an indication of functional illiteracy in many cases.Although the extensive use of text messaging could present limitations on specific types of communication and protocol, it could also be advantageous in situations not conducive to verbal interaction. Like Morse code, texting could get an emergency message out promptly. Like stenography, texting could get a lot of important information reduced in a short amount of space. Habitual shorthand conversations could be just as critical as a surgeon who takes short cuts by performing abbreviated life saving operations. As long as texting is used in an applicable way, then inadequacy in the fundamentals of communication and education will not be at risk.

You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. – Maya AngelouCan learning a new language increase one’s creativity?The idea of creativity is complex. According to “Human Motivation” by Robert Franken, creativity is defined as “the tendency to generate or recognize ideas, alternatives or possibilities that may be useful in solving problems, communicating with others or entertaining ourselves or others.” To be creative you need to see things from new perspectives and from this generate new possibilities.Creativity results from two types of thinking: convergent (focused, attention driven thinking narrowing solutions down to one) and divergent (the opposite, open thinking that considers all possibilities). Cycling between these two processes results in creative solutions.Much research has been dedicated to the correlation of bilingualism and creativity. Children and adults raised as bilinguals perform better on measures of divergent thinking than monolinguals.The bilingual’s participation in two cultures influences the way they see the world through different cultural and social contexts changing representations in a bilingual’s brain. These new representations promote cognitive flexibility through creative ways of encoding.Bilinguals develop strong convergent skills as well. Juggling two languages forces them to concentrate on the language currently in use and filter out interference from the language not being used at that moment.So much of the bilingual advantage comes from cultural immersion. Can acquiring a second language where the interaction is in the student-teacher school environment versus being immersed in everyday bilingual cultural interactions have the same impact?A 2012 study from the Ferdowsi University in Mashhad, entitled The Effects of Foreign Language Learning on Creativity says yes. Researchers found mastering a foreign language in a classroom context dramatically increases the four components of divergent thinking (fluency, elaboration, originality and flexibility).The question is why? Could it be those willing to learn a foreign language already exhibit characteristics of adaptability and willingness to change – characteristics of divergent thinking. Were these people already prone to creativity?Could it be the exposure to new cultures, customs and beliefs distinctive from their own force them to view the world from a new perspective boosting divergent thinking and creative expression?Tolerance of ambiguity is another aspect of divergent thinking. Is it possible nuances in language structure and culture teach mental flexibility in the face of ambiguity?In school environments, convergent thinking is prized. Educational systems with prescribed courses of material to cover, discourage divergent thinking. Language classes tend to be more non-conformist in nature and divergent thought-friendly. Is this a contributing factor?Deciding whether these creative characteristics are brought on by the experience (as in bilingualism) or already existed to spur the experience of learning a new language is like trying to figure out which came first, the chicken or the egg.The answer is, does it matter? Isn’t the creative boost and the ability to speak fluently in two languages, worth it?