Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dodgy Al]

Interesting debate. I'm curious to know if the majority of people who are against teaching cursive, can actually write it.

English is a beautiful language, and cursive writing really compliments its natural rhythym.

It would be very sad if it went the way of the dodo.

[Wangja]

I cannot believe that on a board primarily for English teachers there is a debate - apparently serious - about the use of joined-up writing.

Ker-iste, I hope nobody's watching.

[Njord]

[justagirl]

I've been in a 3rd grade classroom all year and it's THE year to learn cursive. We started the practice worksheets in January. Starting next month, my teacher won't accept anything that isn't written in cursive...but I must also say that she didn't teach them the correct way to do it (she is okay with them just connecting letters together with slanted lines...MY cursive teacher would have tossed my paper back in my face if I'd tried that!)

[cypher]

Is cursive dead? Are you serious? I cannot say I know anyone who doesn't know how to write cursive. Do some people not know how to or write (or don't want to write in) correct, proper, perfect grade 3 cursive anymore? Sure. If I think about it, I can write a Q or a Z the proper way, but I don't. That's the thing about cursive, I don't have to think about it.

As for bringing cursive into the esl classroom, if the students are interested in it and it makes them more interested in english, then I think it's a good idea.

[Dodgy Al]

wangja, why do you find it so hard to believe that that on a board primarily for English teachers, there is a discussion about an aspect of the English language.

maybe my use of the word 'debate' was a little strong, but really, if you don't have anything meaningful to add, why add anything? just a thought... perhaps it's a slow week for hot topics!

[Njord]

[Gorgias]

The little bit higher level kids find cursive interesting and fun. It's pretty obvious and not very hard to learn. It is never in a text I've taught, but it seems like an obvious thing to at least touch on. I showed a few classes some letters my grandmother had written to me, they seemed to be rather facinated by it. Quite a few kids can do it after seeing it once, as soon as they see what capital J, F, Q and so on are. Certainly, as some other's have mentioned, I'd be surprised if someone I worked with couldn't use cursive; I'm curious now so will investigate my co-workers on Monday.

[ajgeddes]

[Big Mac]

I used to think the same thing as the previous poster: if you can't write in cursive, you are an uneducated idiot. But then when I started looking around I realized that it is not nearly as commonplace as I once thought. Perhaps that statement was true in the 1960s, but not anymore.

I used to think of it as "big person's writing" when I was a kid. When you can write in cursive you're suddenly more grown-up. After that, printing just seemed like something only the really young kids did.

But now it seems most people think of it more as a chore than something that is useful to them.

I didn't think the other teachers at my school were uneducated idiots for not knowing how to write in cursive; they were really smart guys. They learned it in school, but admitted that they promptly forgot because they weren't forced to use it like I was. In the age of computers, cursive handwriting is like comparing records to MP3s.

I do agree that it is easier to read printing over some people's handwriting. However, I think if people write in cursive properly (and if people are used to reading it), it shouldn't be a problem. It is much quicker than printing if you're used to it. And it looks better in my opinion.

[KumaraKitty]

I have always preferred to write cursive. My printing is sloppy and painful looking because I am so used to cursive some letters just naturally end up joined together. I have to hand-print reports once every month, and my anal Manager gets so cheesed off every time he reads my printing and has trouble understanding what I've written. I'm always having to re-print things, but when I say it would be so much easier if he just let me type them all, he starts yapping about how Korean parents want to see our writing or something ridiculous like that.
I had 2 students who had studied in the USA, elementary students, and both could write very nicely in cursive. I was quite impressed. I think Korean parents would love it if their children could write so nicely in English.

[ursus_rex]

Maybe I'm showing my age, but how could anyone take notes in university without cursive... or shorthand. I could never have done it in noncursive handwriting. Notebook computers or laptops were not an option in my day.

[AbbeFaria]

[Njord]

[Njord]