Puntos

[Beto]

He enseño inglés a muchos hispanos y frecuentemente veo que los estudiantes no usan puntos, mayúsculos o otras formas de la gramática correctamente cuando escriban en inglés. ¿Por que? Pienso que muchos de los estudiantes han pasado bastante tiempo en las escuelas en sus paises para aprender este.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Debe ser que lo aprendido caduca en cuanto ponen un pie fuera de la escuela. La cantidad de alumnos universitarios que llanamente no saben escribir es enorme.

[Tomisimo]

En mi opinión, simplemente debes enfatizar la importancia de la buena ortografía. En algunos países, parece que no le dan mucha importancia. Si tu puedes explicar que la gente (futuros empleadores, socios, compañeros del trabajo, etc) los va a juzgar basándose en su forma de escribir y su ortografía, tal vez se dan cuenta que es realmente algo importante.

[irmamar]

Sometimes the rules change a bit from a language to another. For instance, we never use a comma before an "y" in a list of words, but you do (apples, lemons, and onions - manzanas, limones y cebollas). Or we don't write with capital letters the same words (Februabry - febrero, Monday - lunes, June - junio).

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

For instance, we never use a comma before an "y" in a list of words, but you do (apples, lemons, and onions - manzanas, limones y cebollas).

This is known as the Oxford comma How about that for useless information?

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Sometimes the rules change a bit from a language to another.

Quiero añadir que el ; en inglés muchas veces es , en español y que el : se usa mucho en inglés (formal) pero casi no existe en español.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Alguien que no conoce y/o que no respeta las reglas de ortografía en su propia lengua, no se interesará por conocerlas y/o respetarlas en otra lengua.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by Tomisimo

En mi opinión, simplemente debes enfatizar la importancia de la buena ortografía. En algunos países, parece que no le dan mucha importancia. Si tu puedes explicar que la gente (futuros empleadores, socios, compañeros del trabajo, etc) los va a juzgar basándose en su forma de escribir y su ortografía, tal vez se dan cuenta que es realmente algo importante.

Unfortunately, many students don't understand/appreciate/care about the long-term gratification you describe here. IF they care to learn the important things NOW, then YEARS in the future, they will appreciate being a good employee?? In all actuality, I find that very few teens could care less about habits that will make them good workers/employees/citizens. They only care about what's going to happen to them this weekend.... (Sorry to be so negative.....)

Originally Posted by irmamar

Sometimes the rules change a bit from a language to another. For instance, we never use a comma before an "y" in a list of words, but you do (apples, lemons, and onions - manzanas, limones y cebollas). Or we don't write with capital letters the same words (Februabry - febrero, Monday - lunes, June - junio).

Originally Posted by Perikles

This is known as the Oxford comma How about that for useless information?

I think that the "Oxford comma" (thanks for that, Perikles) is not agreed upon. I will try to get some research done on this topic, but I am almost certain that I read somewhere recently that some grammar guides say "yes, use it" and some say "it doesn't matter". Hmmm.....

[Rusty]

The Oxford comma question has come up before. The "official" word on its use, as far as I've researched, is, be consistent. If you choose to use it once in a document, you should continue that practice throughout.
A comma-delimited series may, or may not have a final separator.

[laepelba]

Thanks, Rusty. The mathematician in me says to always use it, but I know that grammar references differ........

[Beto]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Sometimes the rules change a bit from a language to another. For instance, we never use a comma before an "y" in a list of words, but you do (apples, lemons, and onions - manzanas, limones y cebollas). Or we don't write with capital letters the same words (Februabry - febrero, Monday - lunes, June - junio).

Yes, but you do begin sentences with capital leters and end them with a period. I frequently don't see that with my students.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by Beto

Yes, but you do begin sentences with capital leters and end them with a period. I frequently don't see that with my students.

I don't see that with my native English-speaking students AS OFTEN as I don't see it with my English-second-language students...........

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by Rusty

A comma-delimited series may, or may not have a final separator.

A comma-delimited series may, or may not, have a final separator.

Originally Posted by laepelba

I don't see that with my native English-speaking students AS OFTEN as I don't see it with my English-second-language students...........

Do you mean 'AS OFTEN as I see ...'?

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by laepelba

I don't see that with my native English-speaking students AS OFTEN as I don't see it with my English-second-language students...........

Originally Posted by Perikles

Do you mean 'AS OFTEN as I see ...'?

Let me rephrase what I wrote:
I see my native English-speaking students making the same mistake (as you are describing) AS OFTEN AS I see non-native English-speaking students making the mistake.

IN FACT, let me add that where I teach, I find that the new-to-English students are a little bit MORE conscientious and fastidious about their punctuation, grammar, etc. than the non-ESL students.

[Beto]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Let me rephrase what I wrote:
I see my native English-speaking students making the same mistake (as you are describing) AS OFTEN AS I see non-native English-speaking students making the mistake.

IN FACT, let me add that where I teach, I find that the new-to-English students are a little bit MORE conscientious and fastidious about their punctuation, grammar, etc. than the non-ESL students.

Heaven help us!