17
Jul

Using emoji at school ‘could improve language skills

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 06:  Batteries designed as emojis are displayed at the Philo booth at CES 2017 at the Las Vegas Convention Center on January 6, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world's largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 8 and features 3,800 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 165,000 attendees. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Using smiley face, poo and broken heart emoji at school may sound like a strange idea but it could improve children’s language skills, according to an expert.

Vyvyan Evans, a former professor of linguistics at Bangor University, thinks teachers should be using more of the animated icons in class.

He admitted people may find the suggestion absurd but said it was because they didn’t understand how powerful emoji was.

He told the Times Education Supplement: ‘People that pooh-pooh it and turn their nose up and think it’s puerile and childish don’t understand how communication works.’

He said in his new book, The Emoji Code, he didn’t believe the animated icons made youngsters more stupid.

Professor Evans suggested if emoji were part of lessons they would stimulate something we don’t at the moment.

He added:‘Emojis are actually making us more effective communicators in the digital communication space because they’re filling in something that’s actually missing… the non-verbal cues that tell us how the message should be interpreted.’

So if he gets his way kids could soon be putting a thumbs up at the end of their sentences and not getting in trouble for it.

 

Comments ( 1 )
  • poop games says:

    Be aware that some printer drivers will choke on emoji as of OS 10.7.3. That means not just a bad character for the emoji, but a total refusal to print a document containing an emoji character.

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