English Good Grammar

Grammatical errors are acceptable if you've just started learning a new language so don't worry, but you should know they play a very important role in our daily lives. A grammatical error can change the meaning of the sentence and create a bad impression.

1.      Speak in English, assuming English is the language whose grammar you wish to improve upon

English is understood in most parts of the planet, and its importance is increasing in our daily lives. Learning grammar can be hard if we don't really know how to speak English. Improve your grammar by continuous practice. Your speech will reflect patterns you hear, and the rest will fall into place. Find a friend who can speak to you in English, and move on. Whenever you feel stuck, always remember to ask for help!

2.       Make a plan

Try to get an overview of English grammar from a textbook or online resource. Note the grammar points you need to work on and plan to work on each for at least a few days.

3.       Find a tutor

Some of us may disagree with the idea of going to a teacher for grammar lessons, but why not? If you are looking for an alternative, practice grammar using online exercises. There are a number of sites that offer exercises on a range of topics. While using a computer to type a document, grammar checkers can be very helpful too.

4.       Identify common mistakes

People who speak the same language often make the same mistakes in English grammar. For example, many Russian speakers have trouble using "a" and "the" in English. Find out what grammar points are often difficult for speakers of your native language. Pay extra attention to learning those grammar points.

5.       Find some grammar exercises

To learn English grammar well, you'll need to practice each grammar point until you can use it easily. Look for a book of grammar exercises that also has answers. Online activities and quizzes can also help. Focus on just one grammar point each time you study.

6.       Pay close attention to grammar when you read English

When you're trying to learn correct English grammar, it's not enough to understand general idea of what you read. You'll need to understand exactly why each sentence is written that way. When you read a sentence, ask yourself if you can make similar sentences. If you can't or you're not sure, find textbook exercises for those grammar points and practice.

7.       Translate from your native language into English

When you write or speak your own thoughts, it's easy to avoid complicated grammar. When you translate, you have to work with whatever is on the page, even if the grammar is difficult. Start translating simple things like advertisements and then move to newspapers and magazine articles. Translating dialog in plays is another good way to practice.

8.       Read and practice

The more you read, the better you get with your vocabulary. It improves grammar too. If possible, read aloud. Functional grammar deals with the way in which words and word order are used in social perspectives to get the message across. However, if you have a sudden dislike towards heavy grammar books, try the 'parrot method.' This refers to listening and repeating things as many times as possible, so it becomes natural for you to say it that way.

9.       Reading aloud is simpler

Why? Because you eventually are listening to correct grammar as you read it; watching television also helps. It works better if we watch what we are really interested in, although the BBC is always a great option. The English spoken in America is different from that spoken in England. Some parts of spelling and grammar vary between the two countries as well.

10.   Ask native speakers for advice

If you know any native English speakers, ask if they could check some of your writing now and then. If there are no native English speakers near you, look online for language-learning forums or language-exchange sites. Just remember if the native speaker is not a teacher, he or she may not be able to explain grammar rules.

Posted by Leila Cynthia Dewi

English Public Speaking

Speaking at events is a great way to enhance your status as an expert and generate PR for your business. However, becoming a great speaker is an art, not a science. The good news is that with some tips and some practice, you can leave a lasting impression that you will want people to remember. 

Here are some easy ways that you can become a better speaker.

1. Do not for a moment think you cannot give a speech

You give speeches every day to your family, friends, and yes, even to strangers. Your daily conversations are nothing more than mini speeches in casual clothes. If you can talk to one person, you can talk to an audience of thousands. Really.

2. Know your audience

Now that you have your talking points nailed, make sure you are presenting the information in a way that the audience will understand. Your information needs to align with what the audience is expecting. Before presenting, get as much information about the audience as possible. The point is, your job is to leave the audience with a better understanding or education, and you can only do that if you know who they are and what they are expecting.

3. Enhance your visuals and audio

I think most speakers know to not read directly from slides (and if you didn’t before, you do now). If you do use slides during your presentation, use them in an unexpected way. Include a short, fun video or use some photos with humor. 

I saw one presenter who, when he was talking about how people want to do business with trusted brands, had a photo of a beat-up old van with “Want some candy?” spray painted on its side to illustrate why you don’t do business with strangers. Another keynote I went to recently had a DJ who changed the music to underscore themes for the story. Or even consider having an illustrator create some great art for key messages. At least evaluate having your presentation slides created professionally. These tactics can take your entire presentation up a level.

4. Keep your remarks brief and to the point

In speech writing, we have a mantra:

·        Tell them what you are going to say;

·        Say it;

·        Tell them what you told them;

·        Say thank you and sit down.

5. Keep your sentences short, your words shorter

This simply means you should not tax your audience by forcing them to follow a long, convoluted sentence, or interpret a fancy, but unnecessarily long word. Apply the KISS principle: Keep It Simple, Short.

5. Get interactive. 

During the presentations, you have the audience repeat key messages back to you or make gestures back of the takeaway points of his speech. This keeps the audience involved, but even more brilliantly, it gives them devices to remember the material. I often will stop in the middle of the speech to ask audience members to throw out examples of ideas that I present as well. 

As you plan your speech, think about where you can involve the audience and what devices you can use to involve them in the presentation so that you are talking with them, not just to them.

Posted by Leila Cynthia Dewi