I worry about my kids I really do.
They are both teenagers both bright as buttons both progressing through their GCSE's having started 2 years early.
What I worry about is that although they read more than most kids I know, their vocabulary is poor. The matter came to light when my daughter was doing some online revision and asked me many questions all of which related to the usage of words. (Not techy words just everyday words that she hadn't come across before)
Is this an issue anybody else has thought about?
Join the most popular community of UK swingers now
Login
Vocabulary
Quote by benrums0n
I worry about my kids I really do.
They are both teenagers both bright as buttons both progressing through their GCSE's having started 2 years early.
What I worry about is that although they read more than most kids I know, their vocabulary is poor. The matter came to light when my daughter was doing some online revision and asked me many questions all of which related to the usage of words. (Not techy words just everyday words that she hadn't come across before)
Is this an issue anybody else has thought about?
I have a similar problem with my boys. The eldest 3 are all at grammar schools and the 2nd eldest is considered to be 'gifted' but their grasp of the variety of vocabulary available to them seems to me to be quite limited. I put it down to their reluctance to read works of fiction that would expand their experience of the English Language. The so-called brightest one always chose to read text books until very recently. He also has real trouble listening to anyone, so he regularly mispronounces words despite having been previously corrected. I believe he is largely self-taught.
I had a similar conversation with 'mr bloke's' sister last night as her 10 year old daughter was finishing her homework when we were across there for dinner.
She had to replace words in sentences if the wrong tense etc had been used - i.e. 'they threwed the ball over the wall' Apparently there's also a big problem with kids using text speak in exams nowadays too I believe.. dunno if anyone can confirm this?
She had to replace words in sentences if the wrong tense etc had been used - i.e. 'they threwed the ball over the wall' Apparently there's also a big problem with kids using text speak in exams nowadays too I believe.. dunno if anyone can confirm this?
Quote by benrums0n
I worry about my kids I really do.
They are both teenagers both bright as buttons both progressing through their GCSE's having started 2 years early.
What I worry about is that although they read more than most kids I know, their vocabulary is poor. The matter came to light when my daughter was doing some online revision and asked me many questions all of which related to the usage of words. (Not techy words just everyday words that she hadn't come across before)
Is this an issue anybody else has thought about?
Most youngsters I know have rather broad vocabularies and an excellent command of spelling and grammar. It's probably all your fault, you awful parent!
Sex God
Quote by benrums0n
I worry about my kids I really do.
They are both teenagers both bright as buttons both progressing through their GCSE's having started 2 years early.
What I worry about is that although they read more than most kids I know, their vocabulary is poor. The matter came to light when my daughter was doing some online revision and asked me many questions all of which related to the usage of words. (Not techy words just everyday words that she hadn't come across before)
Is this an issue anybody else has thought about?
Not a huge thing I've thought about because I don't have any little people in my life that need help with that stuff. However, when I was growing up, my mum told me that if I came across a word I didn't know I should look it up. I read a lot and I still have a dictionary handy for the words I don't know. I'm not afraid to admit I don't know what something means... if in doubt, look it up.
Sex God
I love my kids with a passion that goes beyond reason. OK they aint A++++++++ students. But boy are they cool!
Quote by Lone_swordsman
I worry about my kids I really do.
They are both teenagers both bright as buttons both progressing through their GCSE's having started 2 years early.
What I worry about is that although they read more than most kids I know, their vocabulary is poor. The matter came to light when my daughter was doing some online revision and asked me many questions all of which related to the usage of words. (Not techy words just everyday words that she hadn't come across before)
Is this an issue anybody else has thought about?
Most youngsters I know have rather broad vocabularies and an excellent command of spelling and grammar. It's probably all your fault, you awful parent!
Ah yes but it is the type of vocabulary expected in an English GCSE paper? :shock:
Sex God
I shouldn't worry too much mate,it is just a consequence of the teenagers peculiar way of filing facts and information.
My son is fifteen now and given the choice he will communicate in the standard series of grunts and slang peppered with unintelligible hand signals which is his generations language.
I have always tried to talk to him on an equal footing and when he is in the mood (in other words when getting his point across is important to him) he is an amazingly eloquent young man.
As far as I can work out the memory of a teen works on a vastly different system to old farts like me and possibly (not sure how old you are)you. We withdraw masses of useless information for various reasons, just randomly and with sometimes unidentifiable triggers. This is presumably due to the huge amounts of junk we have accumulated over the years - to quote Homer Simpson "every time I learn something new it pushes something old out of my brain". The teenager brain, and in fact every one of their motor functions as well, operate on only one criteria 'is this activity essential to my survival?'. If it isn't they simply go back to sleep.
I reckon the way you talk about their reading and how early they are doing their exams suggests to me that the vocabulary you seek is carefully lodged in their psyche like a coiled spring ready for when they need it . As for them asking you the meanings of basic words..............well do you reckon my son really doesn't know where his favorite shirt is when he shouts down the stairs , or do you reckon he just cant be arsed to look ?
My son is fifteen now and given the choice he will communicate in the standard series of grunts and slang peppered with unintelligible hand signals which is his generations language.
I have always tried to talk to him on an equal footing and when he is in the mood (in other words when getting his point across is important to him) he is an amazingly eloquent young man.
As far as I can work out the memory of a teen works on a vastly different system to old farts like me and possibly (not sure how old you are)you. We withdraw masses of useless information for various reasons, just randomly and with sometimes unidentifiable triggers. This is presumably due to the huge amounts of junk we have accumulated over the years - to quote Homer Simpson "every time I learn something new it pushes something old out of my brain". The teenager brain, and in fact every one of their motor functions as well, operate on only one criteria 'is this activity essential to my survival?'. If it isn't they simply go back to sleep.
I reckon the way you talk about their reading and how early they are doing their exams suggests to me that the vocabulary you seek is carefully lodged in their psyche like a coiled spring ready for when they need it . As for them asking you the meanings of basic words..............well do you reckon my son really doesn't know where his favorite shirt is when he shouts down the stairs , or do you reckon he just cant be arsed to look ?
Sex God
well i ain't gotta worry bout me youngest lad he corrects me all the bloody time cheeky little bugger :shock:
Sex God
Quote by benrums0n
I like to remember that Iron is not to irony as brass is to brassy.
Id rather sit on a step ladder in no mans land smoking a cigarette
Sex God
Quote by The_third_man
thats because kids are not longer taught english, maths, history etc they are just taught to pass the exams. Targets grrrrr!
Do you mean 'no' longer?
Oh, and they are taught English, maths. and history etc.
Quote by Dirtygirly
Not a huge thing I've thought about because I don't have any little people in my life that need help with that stuff. However, when I was growing up, my mum told me that if I came across a word I didn't know I should look it up. I read a lot and I still have a dictionary handy for the words I don't know. I'm not afraid to admit I don't know what something means... if in doubt, look it up.
I always have a piece of paper tucked inside a book when I read. I write down words if I don't know them, then find out what they mean. I write grammatical and spelling errors on the other side, with the page numbers they appear on.
I don't know why, because I never do anything about it - but they are supposed to be proof-read, aren't they? Sex God
Quote by Freckledbird
thats because kids are not longer taught english, maths, history etc they are just taught to pass the exams. Targets grrrrr!
Do you mean 'no' longer?
Oh, and they are taught English, maths. and history etc.
Quote by Dirtygirly
Not a huge thing I've thought about because I don't have any little people in my life that need help with that stuff. However, when I was growing up, my mum told me that if I came across a word I didn't know I should look it up. I read a lot and I still have a dictionary handy for the words I don't know. I'm not afraid to admit I don't know what something means... if in doubt, look it up.
I always have a piece of paper tucked inside a book when I read. I write down words if I don't know them, then find out what they mean. I write grammatical and spelling errors on the other side, with the page numbers they appear on.
I don't know why, because I never do anything about it - but they are supposed to be proof-read, aren't they?But dontcha wanna know what the word means right away , in case you miss the meaning of the book ?
Sex God
Quote by Silk and Big G
But dontcha wanna know what the word means right away , in case you miss the meaning of the book ?
I can usually work out the meaning by reading in context - I look for the exact meaning as soon as I can. If I can't work it out, I'll look it up straight away.
I do sometimes wonder if the exam factories my kids attend was the best choice. I chose em simply cos when I was a teen I was bored shitless and I hoped thy would be a bit more stimulated.
I tend to make a mental note when I see words I don't know or words used in a context I don't understand. I firmly believe it embiggens my vocabulary voluminously.
I do dislike folk using "6th form words" in order to appear intelligent.
I tend to make a mental note when I see words I don't know or words used in a context I don't understand. I firmly believe it embiggens my vocabulary voluminously.
I do dislike folk using "6th form words" in order to appear intelligent.
Sex God
Quote by Freckledbird
But dontcha wanna know what the word means right away , in case you miss the meaning of the book ?
I can usually work out the meaning by reading in context - I look for the exact meaning as soon as I can. If I can't work it out, I'll look it up straight away.
its fun working them out from their roots isn't it. that's why I was so pleased when my son told me his school taught Latin, and so disappointed when he dropped it LOL Sex God
I'd love to learn Latin.
Sex God
OOh yeah it truly improves your understanding of our lingo, a bit of Latin a smatter of Greek, a tiddly bit of French and Germanic and Bobs yer Uncle youre an expert on English 
Sex God
Quote by Silk and Big G
OOh yeah it truly improves your understanding of our lingo, a bit of Latin a smatter of Greek, a tiddly bit of French and Germanic and Bobs yer Uncle youre an expert on English
so true! Sex God
Quote by essex34m
OOh yeah it truly improves your understanding of our lingo, a bit of Latin a smatter of Greek, a tiddly bit of French and Germanic and Bobs yer Uncle youre an expert on English
so true!Funny how it seems.
Always in time.
Sex God
I always have a dictionary handy for all those words I don't understand
Sex God
Quote by benrums0n
Are there shades of truth then? Wanders off wearing his pedantic and philosophy hats.
Well, yeah. There's the white lies and there's the bloody great big black filthy lies.
Sex God
she'll say fuck yeah !
Sex God
Like being 'slightly dead'?
