Farnoosh Abdollahi Dehooei - B.A. in TEFL, Hormozgan University, Bandar Abbas, Iran

This research explored the effect of text messaging on spelling ability of 13 to 18 year-old Iranian teenage EFL learners. 82% of participants reported sending an average of 5 text messages per day. Approximate equal use of multi-press and predictive entry method was also concluded from the data collected in the study. When learners were asked to re-write 30 words as the they would in a text message, they produced various abbreviations (textisms) (M = 53%). Producing textisms was significantly positively correlated with learners’ spelling ability which is also in line with previous findings of positive relationships between literacy and learners’ textism.

predictive text messaging, mobile phone, spelling, textism