Brief Description Objectives Materials and Resources Activity Description Internet Resources

• Grade level: Middle school

• Subject Area: Language Arts, Foreign Language

Brief Description

    Students use Internet resources to examine the influence of technological terminology on English and other languages.
Objectives

    Students will:

• Recognize that the evolution of the English language is an ongoing process.
• Consider the effect this evolution has on culture in this country and others.

Materials and Resources

    In developing our lessons and activities, we made some assumptions about the hardware and software that would be available in the classroom for teachers who visit the LETSNet Website. We assume that teachers using our Internet-based lessons or activities have a computer with the necessary hardware components (mouse, keyboard, and monitor) as well as a World Wide Web browser. In the section below, we specify any "special" hardware or software requirements for a lesson or activity (in addition to those described above) and the level of Internet access required to do the activity.

1. Special hardware requirements: None.
2. Special software requirements: None.
3. Internet access: A medium-speed or higher connection.

Activity Description

• The increasing popularity of technology has introduced many words into the English language that did not exist prior to technology. Have students use the Internet resources provided (see Internet Resources below) to think about some of the words and phrases they use every day that may have their origins in computer programming languages or other protocols.

• Have students imagine the kinds of factors that may shape and influence the English language in the future.

Internet Resources

• NetGlos--The Multilingual Glossary of Internet Terminology
  [http://wwli.com/translation/netglos/netglos.html]
  This site contains a glossary of common Internet terms translated into 10 different languages.

• Internet Hyper-Glossary
  [http://www.windows95.com/connect/glossary.html]
  This is another site containing definitions of Internet terminology, including acronyms.

• c/net Glossary
  [http://www.cnet.com/Resources/Info/Glossary/index.html]
  This site contains definitions of highly technical Internet terms.

• NetLingo: The Internet Language Dictionary
  [http://www.netlingo.com]
  This site contains definitions of technical terms as well as some of the more "slangy" words and phrases associated with Internet use.

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