Speaking Japanese?

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l8r wiki bro I playN egames.
wn2 ctch^ on allchats 2nite?
sounds gud bro eMMe a tyme...

Learning the new language of the digital natives has well past it's due by date! There's and old saying: "When in Rome do as the Romans do". I'm going to adapt that saying to "When in digital native land, do as the digital natives do":)! Some would argue that we should stop all of this modern day lingo and I have to agree that I get lost a little with the latest technology terms and language. However, in reality how are we going to meet and understand our new learners? If we wait for them to visit our camp site we could be waiting for a while!

I believe that we have 3 options here as learning managers... 1. We oppose the new generation of digital terms and language by excluding it from our classroom environment. 2. We accept the new generation of digital terms whilst making some exceptions and selectively use digital language within our learning environments or 3. We completely accept and welcome the new digital era and the language that proceeds it, utilising it where appropriate.

Option 1. Seems ridiculous to me personally but in reality within the education system today there are some older generational teachers that would be in favor of this option. Wisdom or ignorance? 

Option 2. Is where I see our current education system at present. Today's teachers are doing their best to come to terms with what really has been a rapid evolution of terms and language. Having said this, there is still some resistance by those who have been thrown into the deep end without a knowledge of how to swim.

Option 3. Could be met with its challenges. If we were to speak the digital native language in our foreign tongue the students may just say: (and I can hear it now, particularly in secondary school) "Our teacher's trying to be up with the latest, what an idiot!" In the document written by Marc Prensky, Digital Natives Digital Immigrants he highlights that we as digital immigrants will always be just that, digital immigrants and whilst some of us will be better at immigrating than others we will always carry with us our digital immigration accent! We as learning managers need to be mindful and respectful of this. I would like to elaborate further...

Quite a few years ago now I lived amongst the people of Samoa. I was very interested in learning their culture and their ways and I developed a great respect and love for the Samoan people. I enjoyed their company, music and food. I made an effort to learn the common words of their language so that I could understand the basics of communication and I spoke their language at appropriate times which they respected and appreciated. I wore their clothing where appropriate but I was always aware of one thing... that I wasn't Samoan and never would be. I knew and respected the line that separated our cultures and and in turn they respected me.

On a smaller scale but equally as important there is a significant difference to how we are wired and how the younger generations are wired. We (the older generations) have seen and experienced extreme technological  changes whilst the younger generations were born into it, to them it's just part of life. My point in all of this is that we need to respect that. We won't be good at talking their language but we need to do our best to understand and use it appropriately so that we can meet them. We need to show them that we are willing to learn and understand 'new' technological terms and applications so that we can relate to them. We need to make an effort to use the new technology language and applications where and when appropriate so that we can effectively manage their learning. I believe that if we show our genuine respect they will reciprocate it and together we will learn.

In closing I found a language to text conversion web page today whilst researching and I had a lot of fun with it. If you get the chance please feel free to give it a go...

http://www.lingo2word.com/translate.php