> Explicit block markers are much easier to teach.
The point of communication is to express something in a way that the listener understands it. Simply expressing something that is comfortable or normal to the speaker is simply not useful for either party of the goal is communication.
You're right. What matters is that explicit block markers are easier to learn (from the student's perspective). Being easier to teach (from the teacher's perspective) doesn't matter as much.
Sure, but without the white space defined blocks it is entirely on you to teach them about the importance of formatting their code to ensure readability.
My point was to express that your students need to learn to communicate with the programming language in a way that the language understands, not in a way that is comfortable for them as the “speaker”. You as the teacher should be setting that expectation.
The point of communication is to express something in a way that the listener understands it. Simply expressing something that is comfortable or normal to the speaker is simply not useful for either party of the goal is communication.