[emile]

err...continuing from another thread...

Have you used SMS games or activities in class? I've actually designed some, but I wonder how practical they are. (Text messages are cheap here, negligable really, but sometimes they don't go through instantly etc.)

[Eric]

never, but it sounds fun. what did you design?

[mesmark]

SMS? what does that stand for?

[simplyesl]

I play mobile games with my students after class. SMS - Short Message Service - texting, msging on your cell phone.

[mesmark]

I've taken a few students to the computer lab and hopped on some chat boards, but I've never had them message people who were in the same room. It sounds like it would be cool if a few groups had a puzzle and they need information from the other groups to complete it...

[emile]

SMS? what does that stand for?

That's what they call text messaging here in Malaysia. Is this term not widely used in the US and UK?

never, but it sounds fun. what did you design?

Just simple things like word association and I-spy. There was once a story about a student in the UK who submitted her homework by SMS, using SMS language. You could turn this around and ask them to do just that. It's a great way to share haikus and so on.

[Eric]

Quote emile

It's a great way to share haikus and so on.

oooooohhh, fun!

[livinginkorea]

I read it more than I've actually heard it. I've seen it on loads of newspapers advertisments but it's more common to say text messages.

BTW it stands for "Short Message Service"

[mesmark]

In Japan I've hear 'text messaging' but I left the states way before the age of SMS and don't know what is used over there.

[clivehawkins]

If I say SMS when I go back to the UK people generally look at me strangely. It's not that easy to say 'texts' anyway. It just comes out like 'tex'. maybe it's just me.

[Eric]

i've heard sms on american tech podcasts and it took a few months to figure what they were talking about. everyone in korea says text. "text me!"

[emile]

Another one used in Malaysia and Singapore is 'handphone' instead of cellphone or mobile. What do people say in Korea and Japan?

Since we're on this topic, I often argue that the most widely used form of English is 'broken English'. And since the rules of the language follow usage and not vice versa, what does that mean for the future?

[livinginkorea]

Quote clivehawkins

If I say SMS when I go back to the UK people generally look at me strangely. It's not that easy to say 'texts' anyway. It just comes out like 'tex'. maybe it's just me.

Ya doesn't it sound so strange! I always say "I'll send you a message later" or "I'm writing a message."

[livinginkorea]

Quote emile

Another one used in Malaysia and Singapore is 'handphone' instead of cellphone or mobile. What do people say in Korea and Japan?

Since we're on this topic, I often argue that the most widely used form of English is 'broken English'. And since the rules of the language follow usage and not vice versa, what does that mean for the future?

Everybody says "handphone" here so I am always telling my students that it's Konglish (Korean and English mixed together).

To be honest handphone maybe is a lot more sense than cell phone or mobile phone. The funny thing is that some of the native teachers here call it "handphone" too

[mesmark]

I say the Japanese equivalent a lot to other native speakers, 'keitai.' I don't know why but stay anywhere long enough and I guess everyone starts code switching. Not using it sounds like resisting change.

Many foreigners also use the Japanese system for counting money. It costs 2 'man' which means 20,000 yen.