Hi all,
I am woking as a softskills trainer where I am suppose to take grammar class for students.
Grammar is important as well as 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?
From India, Chennai
I am woking as a softskills trainer where I am suppose to take grammar class for students.
Grammar is important as well as 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?
From India, Chennai
Hi Giri21,
I take it that your grammar class will be in the English language.
In which case, grammar in a second language is not easy to grasp and , as you say, is a vague topic.
I suggest you make it fun and funny; use a word that sounds the same but is spelt differently in a sentence and show the difference, for example, the word THEIR and THERE.
Also , do the same with punctuation marks, for example IT'S and ITS.
An English professor wrote the words
"A woman without her man is nothing"
and asked the students to punctuate it correctly.
ALL of the males in class wrote:
"A woman, without her man, is nothing"
ALL of the females wrote:
"A woman: without her, man is nothing"
So, make your class fun with lots of examples, which you can find on the internet.
I hope the above helps.
Regards,
Harsh
From United Kingdom, Barrow
I take it that your grammar class will be in the English language.
In which case, grammar in a second language is not easy to grasp and , as you say, is a vague topic.
I suggest you make it fun and funny; use a word that sounds the same but is spelt differently in a sentence and show the difference, for example, the word THEIR and THERE.
Also , do the same with punctuation marks, for example IT'S and ITS.
An English professor wrote the words
"A woman without her man is nothing"
and asked the students to punctuate it correctly.
ALL of the males in class wrote:
"A woman, without her man, is nothing"
ALL of the females wrote:
"A woman: without her, man is nothing"
So, make your class fun with lots of examples, which you can find on the internet.
I hope the above helps.
Regards,
Harsh
From United Kingdom, Barrow
Hello Mr Giri,
You can start with a small written exercise to your trainees.
Find out what their expectations are.
Ask them to give the title related to GRAMMAR. Give your instruction 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 in the answer sheet.
Make sure you do not attack any one while announcing
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
You can start with a small written exercise to your trainees.
Find out what their expectations are.
Ask them to give the title related to GRAMMAR. Give your instruction 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 in the answer sheet.
Make sure you do not attack any one while announcing
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
Hi Mr.V.Raghunathan,
Thanks for your valuable idea of making them them to write & speak.
I did searched for training activities in citehr unfortunately I end up with none and hence I had started this discussion.
From India, Chennai
Thanks for your valuable idea of making them them to write & speak.
I did searched for training activities in citehr unfortunately I end up with none and hence I had started this discussion.
From India, Chennai
Mr. Giri,
You have responded to Mr. Raghunathan, which I quote here
I did searched for training activities in citehr unfortunately I end up with none and hence I had started this discussion.
How come there is no punctuation, "did searched", 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 them 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
You have responded to Mr. Raghunathan, which I quote here
I did searched for training activities in citehr unfortunately I end up with none and hence I had started this discussion.
How come there is no punctuation, "did searched", 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 them 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
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 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 & their present roles / background ETC.
Wishing You Good Luck!
A S KRISHNA MURTHY [ASK]
SOFT SKILLS TRAINER
Bangalore 96206 19309
From India, Chennai
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 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 & their present roles / background ETC.
Wishing You Good Luck!
A S KRISHNA MURTHY [ASK]
SOFT SKILLS TRAINER
Bangalore 96206 19309
From India, Chennai
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 of 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 the language. This exercise can be completed in about 10 days and will push up the general standard and help your company to 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 - .
From India, Bangalore
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 of 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 the language. This exercise can be completed in about 10 days and will push up the general standard and help your company to 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 - .
From India, Bangalore
Dear NK Sundaram,
Being a soft skills trainer kindly 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
Being a soft skills trainer kindly 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
Dear Mr Giri,
Being a soft skills trainer, Management Practitioner and English trainer, I have conducted several programmes to different groups with various background. One of the successful tools in Language enhancement programme in English is writing, speaking and reading on various topics given a specific objective. This is a strong platform on which you can build structure of communication excellence with different levels.
Believe me .it worked consistently and produced results with active participation. Initially you will find that it would be slow but gradually the momentum will pick up. Others have given practical tips and insights. Kudos to them. Very rarely meaningful contributions are seen in this cite bearing a string of little criticism. Let us accept it. However it is slightly above the board.
Do well and all the very best.
V. Rangarajan. (Chennai)
From India, Pune
Being a soft skills trainer, Management Practitioner and English trainer, I have conducted several programmes to different groups with various background. One of the successful tools in Language enhancement programme in English is writing, speaking and reading on various topics given a specific objective. This is a strong platform on which you can build structure of communication excellence with different levels.
Believe me .it worked consistently and produced results with active participation. Initially you will find that it would be slow but gradually the momentum will pick up. Others have given practical tips and insights. Kudos to them. Very rarely meaningful contributions are seen in this cite bearing a string of little criticism. Let us accept it. However it is slightly above the board.
Do well and all the very best.
V. Rangarajan. (Chennai)
From India, Pune
My dear Mr. Giri,
Am sorry to note your contents. Perhaps you have not read my response in the true sense without any bias. I certainly expected these kinds of comments to my response. That is why I specifically mention that my reply should never be responded with a knee-jerk reaction, but that has exactly happened. It was not a negative comment at all, and it was a suggestion. This suggestion was made with the specific intention of communicating to wannabe trainers as well. Public forum is meant for conveying one's view points 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 double whammy. My intention not to hurt anyone but to advise them. If somebody does not want to take it in the true spirit, sorry, I cant help it. May be 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 which is totally human. But, if the error is repeated, then it is not called error.
Best wishes
From India
Am sorry to note your contents. Perhaps you have not read my response in the true sense without any bias. I certainly expected these kinds of comments to my response. That is why I specifically mention that my reply should never be responded with a knee-jerk reaction, but that has exactly happened. It was not a negative comment at all, and it was a suggestion. This suggestion was made with the specific intention of communicating to wannabe trainers as well. Public forum is meant for conveying one's view points 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 double whammy. My intention not to hurt anyone but to advise them. If somebody does not want to take it in the true spirit, sorry, I cant help it. May be 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 which is totally human. But, if the error is repeated, then it is not called error.
Best wishes
From India
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