[EngliPatrick]

While there is a time and place for everything, I'm not quite convinced there's a place for contractions in early English acquistion when it comes to practicing writing.

I was taught when I was a kid that contractions are very casual and shouldn't be used in when writing.

Maybe times have changed since then? I believe students should first learn the CORRECT way to write, first, and then possibly be allowed to shorten it up when speaking.

I teach in Japan and right out of the gate, lesson 1, students are taught contractions and for some strange reason, this rubs me wrong.