As educators, it’s important to teach middle school students about appropriate slang usage and its impact on social-emotional learning. In this blog post, we will discuss an easy-to-implement activity, discussion questions, related skills, and resources to help students understand when and where slang words are appropriate.

Introduction

Slang words are informal or shorter versions of words that we often use when hanging out with friends or talking to people our age. For example, calling a dollar a “buck” or asking friends to “hang” are instances of slang usage. Although slang words can be a fun and creative way to communicate, it’s essential for students to understand that there are appropriate times and places to use slang, such as in casual conversations with friends, and times when using slang can be seen as disrespectful, like in formal situations or when speaking with adults. By teaching students the importance of context and audience in their language choices, we can support their social-emotional learning and help them develop strong communication skills.

No-Prep Activity: Slang or Not?

This activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator. Simply follow these steps:

1. Divide the class into small groups or pairs.
2. Ask each group to come up with five slang words or phrases they commonly use with their friends.
3. Then, have the groups discuss and decide whether each slang word or phrase would be appropriate to use in various scenarios, such as talking to a teacher, giving a presentation, or in a job interview.
4. Afterward, have a class discussion where each group shares their slang words and phrases and the contexts in which they believe they are appropriate or inappropriate.

This activity helps students become more aware of their language choices and encourages them to think critically about when and where slang words are suitable.

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it important to consider the context and audience when using slang words?
2. Can you think of a time when you or someone else used slang inappropriately? What was the reaction, and how did it affect the situation?
3. How can using slang words in the wrong context impact our relationships with others, such as teachers, family members, or potential employers?
4. What are some strategies for knowing when to use slang and when to use more formal language?
5. How can understanding appropriate slang usage contribute to our social-emotional learning and communication skills?

Related Skills

Teaching students about appropriate slang usage helps develop essential skills related to social-emotional learning, such as:

• Effective communication: Understanding when to use slang and when to use more formal language helps students communicate clearly and respectfully in various social situations.
• Empathy: Being aware of how language choices can impact others helps students develop empathy and better relate to the feelings and perspectives of those around them.
• Self-awareness: Reflecting on their own language choices and considering the context and audience helps students develop self-awareness and make more thoughtful decisions in their communication.
• Social awareness: Recognizing social norms and expectations regarding language use helps students navigate different social situations more effectively.

Next Steps

If you’re interested in exploring more activities and resources related to social-emotional learning for middle school students, we encourage you to sign up for free samples at Everyday Speech. These materials will help you integrate social-emotional learning into your classroom and support your students’ growth in this essential area.