Acronyms and icons used in blogs: Implications for the teaching of ESL

This investigation observed the behavior of participants in a weather blog, as well as three other randomly selected blogs with the purpose of identifying patterns in their use of icons and acronyms; similarities and differences in structure and style within blogs were also studied. Implications of the use of these symbols to the teaching of English as a Second Language were the focus of the research.;The data collected evidenced prevalence in the use of acronyms and icons in all blogs studied; there was also evidence of structural similarities. Differences in style were found between the weather blog and the other three blogs; these were related to correctness and concern toward spelling, punctuation, and grammar rules. The major difference among the blogs turned out to be in the vast amount of comments found attached to main entries in the weather blog.;The existence within the weather blog of a sense of community was confirmed by factors such as: the ability to recognize members as frequent users; the existence of group leaders; the willingness to answer questions; and the huge amount of ideas and opinions that was observed. The implications within the English classroom were discussed and found to be related to the transference of the use of acronyms and icons from the online experience to the non-virtual world. This requires that the English curriculum, both in ESL and vernacular contexts and in Puerto Rico and abroad, be revised to include this incipient variety of English. Another important implication was the need to prepare teachers in handling this linguistic occurrence.;The researcher recommends changes to the curriculum that will allow educators to handle the impact of these implications; these changes should be made promptly. Textbooks that can be used to introduce the topic in the English classroom and in colleges and universities with teacher preparation programs is advised; as is the creation of a glossary that can be incorporated into dictionaries. The establishment of a forum, web site or blog to discuss this topic and stay abreast of changes in it is also recommended.