Texting Improves Literacy Skills

Today’s technology has increased at a rapid rate. Various benefits have arisen due to the advancements in technology. One of the benefits can be linked to the infamous cell phone feature, text messaging. According to the article entitled “Texting’ Improves Literacy, British Study Finds,” text messaging can enhance one’s literacy skills if it is practiced on a regular basis. Because it is one of the most popular forms of communication, texting has become a culturally universal mark of the world due to the fact that many people have heard of texting and know how to text.

Several people have often heard the many fears that come along with texting. One of the fears associated with text messaging is that it may decrease ones’ literacy skills. However the small study of sixty-three children between the ages of eight and twelve proves that texting messaging essentially improves these skills. It improves skills by having to sound out the words before typing them. Sounding the words out helps in reading and comprehension skills (Robelen, 1).

The majority of phones have a spell check tool with their text message feature. Using a spell check helps the person texting to see what words were misspelled and how to correctly spell them. So many people have become dependent on the spell check feature. In a world that relies on technology for various reasons, a new improvement in education has emerged due to text messaging.

From my own personal experience I have found this study to be true. I have noticed an increase in my spelling due to sounding the words out before I type a text message. I can honestly say that I do not know of anyone who does not utilize their text feature on their phone. With that being said, many people young and old are brushing up on their literacy skills. We depend on technology for so many reasons.Thanks to the recent advancements in technology we are virtually able to see our literacy skills improve. A simple perk of texting is an improvement in literacy skills.

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Robelen, Erik. “Texting’ Improves Literacy, British Study Finds,” EdWeek. 23 Jan. 2010 http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2010/01/texting_improves_spelling_brit.html?qs=Eric+Robelen.