Preparation
Photocopy the text messages and their real English translations. You can the either hand these out as a worksheet or cut them up into strips for students to match.
Procedure
Ask your students how they send texts and to teach you a few tricks for messaging in their language. Then tell them that in English there are lots of ways to send short texts.
- Give out the cut up the strips or matching exercise to each group of 3 or 4 students.
- Ask them to read the messages and to match them with their real English equivalent.
- Tell them the answers and ask them if they have any equivalents in their L1.
Text lingo
How’s your English text lingo? Match the text message on the left with its ‘translation’ in real English on the right.
| Text | Translation |
| 1) C U L8R M8 | a) As far as I know |
| 2) B4 | b) Love you with all my heart |
| 3) AFAIK | c) Boring |
| 4) W8 4 ME, I’M L8, SOZ | d) Text me back |
| 5) KIT | e) Have a nice day |
| 6) RUOK? | f) See you later mate |
| 7) LUWAMH | g) Keep in touch |
| 8) HAND | h) Easy |
| 9) Zzzzzzzzz | i) Are you okay? |
| 10) KOTL | j) Wait for me, I’m late, sorry |
| 11) TMB | k) See you tonight or tomorrow |
| 12) 0 ME | l) By the way |
| 13) EZ | m) Before |
| 14) BTW | n) Ring me |
| 15) C U 2NITE O 2MORO | o) Kiss on the lips |
Answers: 1 – f, 2 – m, 3 – a, 4 – j, 5 – g, 6 – i, 7 – b, 8 – e, 9-c, 10 – o, 11 – d, 12 – n. 13 – h, 14 – l, 15 - k
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