Am I a Spelling Nazi?
In a long battle of perfecting the spellings of my students in my innings as a teacher, I’ve realized that some things never change- mindset towards learning. So I decided to make peace and move on…
In all my years of experience as a teacher, I have found school students often misspelt two simple yet important words that are an integral part of any language in the world, and the two words are namely ‘writing and grammar.’ They were often spelt as ‘grammer and writting’.This often left me wondering what was wrong with the phonetic sounds (pronunciation) of these two words or that they wrote these words without thinking.
I moved to teaching Spoken English in a language institute with an emphasis on grammar and writing to professionals from all walks of life. I was training CA’s, MBA aspirants, Law graduates, and housewives. I was again faced with the above-mentioned dilemma.
To this day I am yet to understand and I am often in a state of utter bewilderment, Why is it so difficult to spell and write the two simple words grammar and writing? I have often explained to my students to break the two words by writing them on the blackboard which goes as
gram +mar= grammar
write + ing= writing( with the exception that the letter ‘e’ should be deleted)
My students never understood this simple concept.
I hail from an education system where only the blackboard and the white chalk were used by our hardworking teachers who painstakingly made efforts to explain grammatical concepts easy to understand above all their lessons were enjoyable and all of us(classmates)looked forward to it.
With so many technological advancements in the field of education, the quality of teaching any language has been upgraded to its highest standards, where a spelling error can be corrected with a touch of our fingers on the touchscreen of our Android phones. It’s a sad reality that our students make such silly mistakes even to this day.
In the end, Who is to blame?
Teacher or Student?
This has made me sit up and think Am I Spelling Nazi?
The term “spelling Nazi” has been coined to describe individuals who exhibit an unwavering commitment to correct spelling, sometimes to the point of being perceived as overly pedantic. In this exploration, we delve into the nuances of this phenomenon, pondering the question, “Am I a spelling Nazi?”
I have always been a stickler for good grammar and impeccable spelling because that was the way I was trained to get the best out of myself when I was a student. The desire for clarity and precision in communication is an inherent quality that will always be with me as long as I live.
I have been labelled as a spelling Nazi, because I am an individual who values linguistic accuracy, recognizing the role it plays in conveying messages effectively.
I have seen glaring errors by students who other teachers have shamed for their spelling and grammar errors in their written content in other subjects. This continues to exist even to this day even after I gave up teaching twenty years ago.
In a world inundated with written content, from social media posts to professional emails, the ability to articulate thoughts with precision holds undeniable significance.
The term Nazi historically associated with authoritarianism and extremism, adds a layer of intensity to the label. This begs the question: when does a commitment to linguistic precision cross the line into an excessive and unwarranted pursuit of correctness?
I am of the perspective that spelling Nazis contribute to maintaining linguistic standards, upholding the integrity of written communication.
They view their meticulous approach as a form of respect for the language and its rules, aiming to preserve a level of sophistication in written expression.
To them, this commitment is a testament to the importance of clear and effective communication.
Any written content with shoddy spelling and uncouth grammar leaves the writer in bad taste no matter how creatively the writer has expressed his work.
Our initial years in school, college and later university play a major role in shaping our thoughts and ideas which when expressed require a certain standard and decency and this requires hard work.
So insisting on good spelling and grammar is not a crime and I am not being judgmental.
Despite all the guidance and persuasion, my students refuse to learn and insist on repeating their mistakes, which makes me sad and disheartened.
Though not having good educational opportunities and coming from economically poor families many of my students have excelled in both grammar and spelling under my guidance and I am proud of my achievement as a teacher.
So, how do I determine whether I am a spelling Nazi or not? It boils down to my intention and approach.
My goal is to genuinely facilitate better communication, share knowledge, or uphold standards in professional contexts, then the commitment to proper spelling can be seen as a positive attribute.
However, my motivation is not rooted in a desire to showcase superiority, belittle my students, or impose a rigid standard without consideration for context, it might be time to reassess my approach towards the language and a genuine concern and show sensitivity to my students’ learning disabilities and shortcomings.
I have understood the dynamic nature of the English language and its impact on the world. However, I have also embraced linguistic diversity and recognized that communication styles that vary across individuals and communities can foster a more inclusive and open-minded approach.
Navigating this fine line between being termed a ‘Spelling Nazi’ or not requires self-reflection, an understanding of the diverse ways people communicate, and a willingness to adapt to the ever-changing nature of language.
After all, the ultimate goal of communication is to connect and share ideas and find a harmonious balance that allows us to achieve this with authenticity and empathy.
It’s been a long journey of truth and self-acceptance that I am indeed a ‘Spelling Nazi.’
Disclaimer: These Google Images were used just to highlight glaring errors of spelling made by most of us. This was in no way used to intentionally hurt the sentiments of people who have learning disabilities. Any intent to do so is deeply regretted. Thank You
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