Unless you are paying for the data plan, I doubt you will be able to access email on your phone, since your phone prob doesn't connect to the internet.  Texting is another matter.  If your phone has texting capabilities, you can send and receive texts.  Text msgs are also called SMS messages.  If you are not paying for X number of texts per month, it will cost you $.20 for each one you send or receive.  Without knowing more specifics about your phone, that's about all I can tell you.  Feel free to PM me, maybe I can help more.

Swim

Find a teenager anywhere and he/she can show you how to text message like a fiend!  

They don't even email or call people anymore. It's all texting.

There are Verizon stores on every street corner now days. Try going
into one when they arent busy and ask for some help. They helped me set
up so I could recieve emails and BYW  its pretty easy once youve done it.