Hi all,
I am working as a soft skills trainer where I am supposed to teach grammar to students. Grammar is an important yet challenging topic for students. I am unsure how to make the class interesting, especially when teaching grammar. Could anyone please share your ideas with me on how to achieve this?
Thank you.
From India, Chennai
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1I am working as a soft skills trainer where I am supposed to teach grammar to students. Grammar is an important yet challenging topic for students. I am unsure how to make the class interesting, especially when teaching grammar. Could anyone please share your ideas with me on how to achieve this?
Thank you.
From India, Chennai
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Hi Giri21,
I assume that your grammar class will be conducted in the English language. In this case, mastering grammar in a second language is not easy to grasp and, as you mentioned, it can be a vague topic. I recommend making the class fun and engaging by incorporating humor. One way to do this is by using words that sound the same but are spelled differently in a sentence to illustrate the distinction, such as the words 'their' and 'there'. Similarly, you can also demonstrate the variance in the usage of punctuation marks, for instance, 'it's' and 'its'.
Here's a humorous example to highlight the importance of punctuation: An English professor wrote the phrase "A woman without her man is nothing" on the board and asked the students to punctuate it correctly. The outcome was quite amusing - all the male students punctuated it as "A woman, without her man, is nothing," while all the female students punctuated it as "A woman: without her, man is nothing."
Therefore, incorporating such examples and exercises can make your class more enjoyable and educational. You can easily find a plethora of examples on the internet to support your teaching.
I hope the above suggestions are helpful.
Regards,
Harsh
From United Kingdom, Barrow
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I assume that your grammar class will be conducted in the English language. In this case, mastering grammar in a second language is not easy to grasp and, as you mentioned, it can be a vague topic. I recommend making the class fun and engaging by incorporating humor. One way to do this is by using words that sound the same but are spelled differently in a sentence to illustrate the distinction, such as the words 'their' and 'there'. Similarly, you can also demonstrate the variance in the usage of punctuation marks, for instance, 'it's' and 'its'.
Here's a humorous example to highlight the importance of punctuation: An English professor wrote the phrase "A woman without her man is nothing" on the board and asked the students to punctuate it correctly. The outcome was quite amusing - all the male students punctuated it as "A woman, without her man, is nothing," while all the female students punctuated it as "A woman: without her, man is nothing."
Therefore, incorporating such examples and exercises can make your class more enjoyable and educational. You can easily find a plethora of examples on the internet to support your teaching.
I hope the above suggestions are helpful.
Regards,
Harsh
From United Kingdom, Barrow
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Hello, Mr. Giri,
You can start with a small written exercise for your trainees. Find out what their expectations are. Ask them to give a title related to GRAMMAR. Give your instructions verbally. You will be surprised to find many faltering with even the spelling of GRAMMAR. Then there will be plenty of answers found wanting in spelling, tense, punctuation, etc. Of course, make sure that no one writes his/her name on the answer sheet.
Make sure you do not attack anyone while announcing the wrong answer, followed by the correct answers. In Cite HR columns, there are plenty of articles highlighting the English GRAMMATICAL howlers. They are funny and contributed by persons from all over the world. Often, they are simple and self-explanatory. Please browse and keep them ready for your class.
My advice/suggestion is only one. Ask participants to write or speak simple sentences. Writing a simple sentence is like driving slowly when you learn to drive a two-wheeler or a four-wheeler. Once your balance is set and steady, you automatically pick up speed. Nobody teaches you to pick up speed. That is the clue.
V. Raghunathan
From India
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You can start with a small written exercise for your trainees. Find out what their expectations are. Ask them to give a title related to GRAMMAR. Give your instructions verbally. You will be surprised to find many faltering with even the spelling of GRAMMAR. Then there will be plenty of answers found wanting in spelling, tense, punctuation, etc. Of course, make sure that no one writes his/her name on the answer sheet.
Make sure you do not attack anyone while announcing the wrong answer, followed by the correct answers. In Cite HR columns, there are plenty of articles highlighting the English GRAMMATICAL howlers. They are funny and contributed by persons from all over the world. Often, they are simple and self-explanatory. Please browse and keep them ready for your class.
My advice/suggestion is only one. Ask participants to write or speak simple sentences. Writing a simple sentence is like driving slowly when you learn to drive a two-wheeler or a four-wheeler. Once your balance is set and steady, you automatically pick up speed. Nobody teaches you to pick up speed. That is the clue.
V. Raghunathan
From India
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Hi Mr. V. Raghunathan,
Thank you for your valuable idea of encouraging them to write and speak. I searched for training activities on citehr; however, I could not find any, which led me to start this discussion.
From India, Chennai
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Thank you for your valuable idea of encouraging them to write and speak. I searched for training activities on citehr; however, I could not find any, which led me to start this discussion.
From India, Chennai
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Mr. Giri,
You have responded to Mr. Raghunathan, which I quote here: "I did search for training activities in citehr; unfortunately, I ended up with none and hence I had started this discussion." How come there is no punctuation, "did search," no grammar...! God Save your Students....
Please do not mistake my comments. A Trainer's role is much more challenging than a Teacher. We stay with the trainees for a short span of time, and there cannot be any room for errors. What we leave behind in the trainees' minds will be indelible. If you teach things wrongly and in case they are caught repeating mistakes, you will become the culprit. Be careful with what you write and what you train!
Best wishes
From India, Bengaluru
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You have responded to Mr. Raghunathan, which I quote here: "I did search for training activities in citehr; unfortunately, I ended up with none and hence I had started this discussion." How come there is no punctuation, "did search," no grammar...! God Save your Students....
Please do not mistake my comments. A Trainer's role is much more challenging than a Teacher. We stay with the trainees for a short span of time, and there cannot be any room for errors. What we leave behind in the trainees' minds will be indelible. If you teach things wrongly and in case they are caught repeating mistakes, you will become the culprit. Be careful with what you write and what you train!
Best wishes
From India, Bengaluru
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Dear Giri 21,
It's very interesting to know you have the assignment of teaching English grammar. Well, I agree with Mr. N K Sundaram on the issue of training and teaching. I wish to suggest you go through the basics of English Grammar. There is a good old authoritative book on the subject by Wren & Martin. Of course, the method and content for the assignment should be planned properly considering other issues like the target group, time allotted, mother tongue of the target group, and their present roles/background, etc.
Wishing You Good Luck!
A S KRISHNA MURTHY [ASK]
SOFT SKILLS TRAINER
Bangalore
96206 19309
From India, Chennai
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It's very interesting to know you have the assignment of teaching English grammar. Well, I agree with Mr. N K Sundaram on the issue of training and teaching. I wish to suggest you go through the basics of English Grammar. There is a good old authoritative book on the subject by Wren & Martin. Of course, the method and content for the assignment should be planned properly considering other issues like the target group, time allotted, mother tongue of the target group, and their present roles/background, etc.
Wishing You Good Luck!
A S KRISHNA MURTHY [ASK]
SOFT SKILLS TRAINER
Bangalore
96206 19309
From India, Chennai
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Hi Giri,
Here is one thought. Why is your company asking employees to learn grammar? Obviously, it's not for becoming great at literature. It's more a functional need perhaps because they are expected to deal with outsiders. Plain grammar for the purpose of language skills is going to take too much time and will definitely be boring.
Therefore, as a first step, pick up a few scenarios that your colleagues get involved in their day-to-day work. Ask each of them to create about 50 sentences and get them to correct it themselves. You can then fine-tune the grammar, style, and language. This exercise can be completed in about 10 days and will push up the general standard and help your company achieve the first part of the goal.
Once the people improve their skills, their enthusiasm too picks up momentum and "the train will go on on its own steam."
If you would like assistance with this program, shoot an email - rganesh696@gmail.com.
From India, Bangalore
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Here is one thought. Why is your company asking employees to learn grammar? Obviously, it's not for becoming great at literature. It's more a functional need perhaps because they are expected to deal with outsiders. Plain grammar for the purpose of language skills is going to take too much time and will definitely be boring.
Therefore, as a first step, pick up a few scenarios that your colleagues get involved in their day-to-day work. Ask each of them to create about 50 sentences and get them to correct it themselves. You can then fine-tune the grammar, style, and language. This exercise can be completed in about 10 days and will push up the general standard and help your company achieve the first part of the goal.
Once the people improve their skills, their enthusiasm too picks up momentum and "the train will go on on its own steam."
If you would like assistance with this program, shoot an email - rganesh696@gmail.com.
From India, Bangalore
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Dear NK Sundaram,
As a soft skills trainer, please learn how to give suggestions or criticism to a stranger in public posts so that your words may not insult or hurt others. (Hope you know the power of speech). Thanks for your advice as well.
From India, Chennai
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As a soft skills trainer, please learn how to give suggestions or criticism to a stranger in public posts so that your words may not insult or hurt others. (Hope you know the power of speech). Thanks for your advice as well.
From India, Chennai
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Dear Mr. Giri,
Being a soft skills trainer, management practitioner, and English trainer, I have conducted several programs for different groups with various backgrounds. One of the successful tools in language enhancement programs in English is writing, speaking, and reading on various topics given a specific objective. This is a strong platform on which you can build a structure of communication excellence at different levels.
Believe me, it worked consistently and produced results with active participation. Initially, you will find that progress may be slow, but gradually the momentum will pick up. Others have provided practical tips and insights. Kudos to them. Meaningful contributions are rarely seen on this site, often overshadowed by a string of minor criticisms. Let us accept it; however, it is slightly above the board.
Do well, and all the very best.
V. Rangarajan (Chennai)
From India, Pune
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Being a soft skills trainer, management practitioner, and English trainer, I have conducted several programs for different groups with various backgrounds. One of the successful tools in language enhancement programs in English is writing, speaking, and reading on various topics given a specific objective. This is a strong platform on which you can build a structure of communication excellence at different levels.
Believe me, it worked consistently and produced results with active participation. Initially, you will find that progress may be slow, but gradually the momentum will pick up. Others have provided practical tips and insights. Kudos to them. Meaningful contributions are rarely seen on this site, often overshadowed by a string of minor criticisms. Let us accept it; however, it is slightly above the board.
Do well, and all the very best.
V. Rangarajan (Chennai)
From India, Pune
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My dear Mr. Giri,
I am sorry to note your comments. Perhaps you have not read my response in the true sense without any bias. I certainly expected these kinds of comments on my response. That is why I specifically mentioned that my reply should never be responded to with a knee-jerk reaction, but that has exactly happened. It was not a negative comment at all; it was a suggestion. This suggestion was made with the specific intention of communicating to wannabe trainers as well. A public forum is meant for conveying one's viewpoints without personally attacking anybody. I think I have done this only. Day in and day out, I find a lot of such postings, and we do not react to each and every posting, pointing out the spelling and grammar mistakes. We are not here for it. However, being a Trainer, the person should have been a bit more careful when he specifically talks about a subject which itself concerns Grammar - that was a double whammy. My intention is not to hurt anyone but to advise them. If somebody does not want to take it in the true spirit, sorry, I can't help it. Maybe I can refrain from opening the mail from CiteHR itself. I see the postings only when I am free, and if I stumble upon something very glaring, then I respond. Making a typographical error is something that is totally human. But if the error is repeated, then it is not called an error.
Best wishes
From India, Bengaluru
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I am sorry to note your comments. Perhaps you have not read my response in the true sense without any bias. I certainly expected these kinds of comments on my response. That is why I specifically mentioned that my reply should never be responded to with a knee-jerk reaction, but that has exactly happened. It was not a negative comment at all; it was a suggestion. This suggestion was made with the specific intention of communicating to wannabe trainers as well. A public forum is meant for conveying one's viewpoints without personally attacking anybody. I think I have done this only. Day in and day out, I find a lot of such postings, and we do not react to each and every posting, pointing out the spelling and grammar mistakes. We are not here for it. However, being a Trainer, the person should have been a bit more careful when he specifically talks about a subject which itself concerns Grammar - that was a double whammy. My intention is not to hurt anyone but to advise them. If somebody does not want to take it in the true spirit, sorry, I can't help it. Maybe I can refrain from opening the mail from CiteHR itself. I see the postings only when I am free, and if I stumble upon something very glaring, then I respond. Making a typographical error is something that is totally human. But if the error is repeated, then it is not called an error.
Best wishes
From India, Bengaluru
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Dear Giri21,
I hope you and the other bloggers take this message in the right spirit. When I read your first post, I had choking feeling. Hence, I cut and pasted the same into Microsoft Word and have edited it thus.
"I am working as a soft-skills’ trainer where I am supposed to take grammar class for students.
Grammar is an important, as well as a vague, topic for students. I did not know how to take the class interestingly, especially for grammar.
Could anyone please give/share me your ideas for the same?"
I am sure some puritans can still find mistakes/errors in the above message. I do not claim to be an expert. As a part time student in the UK, I had shown my first assignment to my boss to get his views. After reading, he said "It covers the topic well"; and asked, jokingly, " Were you hungry when you wrote it?" I gave him a funny look and asked "Why?". He said, "you have missed out the definite and indefinite articles in a number of places. Please proof-read the document and insert them." He gave me a few examples. I think the problem is that we do not have such articles in the Indian languages.
Another common mistake that I have found, with a few of my Indian colleagues, is the use of double past tense. My friend says "I did told him." and "they did came yesterday.", etc.
As I wont, I searched the web and found the following site. I hope you find it useful and interesting.
The Fun of Learning English! ESL Resources for Students and Teachers found at https://www.google.co.uk/#q=making+a...ssons+humorous
From United Kingdom
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I hope you and the other bloggers take this message in the right spirit. When I read your first post, I had choking feeling. Hence, I cut and pasted the same into Microsoft Word and have edited it thus.
"I am working as a soft-skills’ trainer where I am supposed to take grammar class for students.
Grammar is an important, as well as a vague, topic for students. I did not know how to take the class interestingly, especially for grammar.
Could anyone please give/share me your ideas for the same?"
I am sure some puritans can still find mistakes/errors in the above message. I do not claim to be an expert. As a part time student in the UK, I had shown my first assignment to my boss to get his views. After reading, he said "It covers the topic well"; and asked, jokingly, " Were you hungry when you wrote it?" I gave him a funny look and asked "Why?". He said, "you have missed out the definite and indefinite articles in a number of places. Please proof-read the document and insert them." He gave me a few examples. I think the problem is that we do not have such articles in the Indian languages.
Another common mistake that I have found, with a few of my Indian colleagues, is the use of double past tense. My friend says "I did told him." and "they did came yesterday.", etc.
As I wont, I searched the web and found the following site. I hope you find it useful and interesting.
The Fun of Learning English! ESL Resources for Students and Teachers found at https://www.google.co.uk/#q=making+a...ssons+humorous
From United Kingdom
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I fully agree with Simhan. As I am writing this mail, I saw in a TV show, the anchor asking a famous actress, "When are you returning to Tamil films?" Returning is "coming back," and hence "returning back" means coming back and going back again, i.e., a double negative. While speaking, we can afford to make mistakes, but people look for only the message, and there is no way of correcting them. However, while writing a sentence in a public domain, what you say is recorded and visible for everybody to see. Therefore, it is always advisable to double-check what you write before posting!!!!
Best wishes
From India, Bengaluru
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Best wishes
From India, Bengaluru
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Dear Sri Narasimhan Ji,
Yet again, you are back with your own way of correcting and advising on this topic. Thanks a lot on my behalf and on behalf of others who are closely watching your response on different areas.
While on the subject, I am pursuing my Ph.D. on a different and unique topic - "Role of HR and Training in the Private Security force in industries." I have presented many papers in the last five months, incorporating my insights and experiences gained in this industry where I have been in a leadership role for ten years, handling various areas. Both academicians and industry practitioners have appreciated my topic and encouraged me to proceed further from an academic point of view.
I would like to request you to share your insights and thoughts on the above subject. Also, may I ask you to suggest some good literature reviews to support me on this journey?
Regards,
V. Rangarajan
From India, Pune
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Yet again, you are back with your own way of correcting and advising on this topic. Thanks a lot on my behalf and on behalf of others who are closely watching your response on different areas.
While on the subject, I am pursuing my Ph.D. on a different and unique topic - "Role of HR and Training in the Private Security force in industries." I have presented many papers in the last five months, incorporating my insights and experiences gained in this industry where I have been in a leadership role for ten years, handling various areas. Both academicians and industry practitioners have appreciated my topic and encouraged me to proceed further from an academic point of view.
I would like to request you to share your insights and thoughts on the above subject. Also, may I ask you to suggest some good literature reviews to support me on this journey?
Regards,
V. Rangarajan
From India, Pune
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Dear Rangarajan,
Thank you very much for the sentiments expressed; I wish you all the best with your pursuit. I have no knowledge of that industry. Kindly see if the article at http://cpi-ac.ca/Discussion%20Docume...nuary%2030.pdf is of any use. There are more links at https://www.google.co.uk/#q=private+...and+role+of+HR.
From United Kingdom
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Thank you very much for the sentiments expressed; I wish you all the best with your pursuit. I have no knowledge of that industry. Kindly see if the article at http://cpi-ac.ca/Discussion%20Docume...nuary%2030.pdf is of any use. There are more links at https://www.google.co.uk/#q=private+...and+role+of+HR.
From United Kingdom
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Soft skills training program.pdf