Yes I am challenged by language skills. Each day, in some form, lamguage continues to challenge me.

Whether it be trying to work out the right words to say in a post or getting the words to come out of my mouth properly (chuckling knowing those who watched the Edublog Awards heard the words being mixed up).

When I think about it I wonder whether I’ve really told people how much I struggle with language? Perhaps not since I couldn’t find a post that talks about it. Maybe it is time it was written? As it is an important story to tell.

If blogging can improve my language skills, and through blogging I’ve ended up doing the work I’m doing — then imagine how much the online world can help others?

“Hi!
I’m awed at the sheer volume of words and ideas you and other bloggers pour onto the internet in any given week. In fact, I was wondering about proofreading. Please do not take offense as there is no good way to say this, but I find multiple writing errors that your spellchecker must not catch – missing words, hyphens, letters, mistakes that anyone makes in typing a lot of text, fast. Your meaning is clear – no doubt about it. So is this a problem? I really do not know.

I’m wondering if it is simply the way of the future – no time to reread, no time to proofread. It’s part of the changing world of language. Maybe we have the makings of a maxim here – If you blog, you gotta let it go. If you can’t let it go, don’t blog.”

Then, you wrote me the nicest, longest, most patient response in which you
- noted that you struggle with language;
- have discussed the issue in your blogs;
- have improved as a result of all the blogging;
- modestly pointed out that your blog has been effective and successful in spite of your language issue. (Hope that’s a fair summary.)

Whatever I wrote back is irrelevant because those are the main points and I felt fairly chagrined.

Anyway, it IS an interesting juncture in mankind’s linguistic evolution. It does seem that digital communication is throwing the whole world into a language explosion, and this must be a good thing. The fact that form becomes secondary at times (e.g., text-messaging, email, blogging) shouldn’t get in the way – right? In the long run, linguistic growth happens for everybody in some area. The sticklers like me have to get faster and make sacrifices or miss out.
Margaret

‘There are iconic bloggers who seem to attract a huge following’ – agreed who are less likely to engage. It really is a hard one. Mostly I choose not to leave comments on blogs that I know are less likely to engage in conversation.

You know why I got into blogging, and so does Michele Martin. I blame it on you two.

But that’s not the real reason.

I got into blogging because I have interests in people, communities and the potential that networking has to permit people within these communities to learn as well as share with others what they know.

I go along with what you say here, with one possible difference. There are blogs (bloggers?) I follow because they share what they find with others and likewise engage me and others in that sharing.

There are iconic bloggers who seem to attract a huge following. These don’t impress me unless they engage me and others in conversation where there is opportunity to participate and share experiences and learning. You do these things, which is why I visit and comment on your posts regularly.

Otherwise I’d just as soon read good old Web1.0 stuff (I do this too!) or go to the library and read books.

Catchya later

Key is we are each different. And this is a message that I like to remind others of because you have to understand this when using it with students.

Wrong. I think yours is a great blogging story and you should be really proud of the post you wrote. It was excellent and I know many adults that would love to have written a post as well as you did.

@Mary Beth Thanks and glad you enjoyed my interview style answers. It’s amazing the doors that blogging can open. Good question — ‘blogging skills’or ‘blogging & community skills’?