Texts and emails aid learning, say experts

YOUNGSTERS are improving their communication skills thanks to modern forms of writing like text-messaging and email, educationalists insisted yesterday.

The experts were reacting to claims from examination officials over the linkbetween the popularity of abbreviated writing and the apparent decline in standards of written English in Junior Certificate tests.

The State’s chief examiner in English, in a review of the examination, said:“Expertise in text messaging and email is affecting spelling and punctuation in particular.