19.Seminar on English Grammar


The Centre for Adult, Continuing Education & Extension (CACEE) organized a Seminar on English Grammar on Sunday, 17 March 2013  at  the University Students’ Centre, Trivandrum.  Seven students of the English Optional of  Govt. College of Teacher Education, Trivandrum attended the Seminar.
The focus of the seminar was on the perspective of learners while learning English Grammar- their experiences, their needs and their insights.
The inaugural address was delivered by Dr. Jameela Beegum A., formerly  Professor and Head, Dept. of English, University of Kerala. Dr.A. R. Supriya, Director, CACEE, presided the  session.
Dr.B. S. Jamuna, Director, Centre for English Language Teaching, University of  Kerala, chaired the  Theme-based talk presented by teachers  from various colleges.
In the afternoon  many students made presentations.
Dr.P. P. Ajayakumar, Professor, Institute of Distance Education, University of Kerala, delivered  the Valedictory Address.
From the  presentations made by four students of Govt. College of Teacher Education, Trivandrum:

1.  Ms. Iswarya:
*Grammar classes are nightmares for most students in Kerala. They find it very strenuous to follow the complex rules  of  Grammar.
*The English language  is ever changing... so is grammar. The study of grammar  can provide insights into  the workings of a language.

2.  Mr. Clint Jerry:
*Students make mistakes in the use of articles, prepositions, pronouns, capital letters, adverb and adjective. We need an open mind....
The major  changes  faced by students in the study of grammar are :
·       Lack of interest
·       Influence of mother tongue
·       Lack of exposure  to the target language
·       Too much addiction
·       Impossible to teach all grammatical rules

3. Ms.Silpa Mohan:
Everyone thinks  about problems related to grammar from the  teaching perspective. It would be  a novel idea  to look  at it from the learner’s perspective. I  would like to  share my experience of  learning  grammar. I studied in a CBSE school and there, we had  separate texts for practising Grammar. We  were not taught rules as such,  rather through constant practice we imbibed  them unconsciously. My experience of  learning grammar was not at all bad...it was a nice  experience. And now I look back at my teachers who made grammar interesting.

4.Ms. Nayana Narayanan:
Some key points to  be noted in teaching Grammar:
*Grammar is an integral part of  the four skills. Grammar taught  in isolation does not serve the purpose  of communication.
* It is not always necessary to learn the rules of grammar consciously  in order to learn a language.
*Whenever English is taught as a second language, it might  become necessary  to teach grammar rules explicitly.
* Grammar practice  is not doing written exercises. It also involves practice which helps in developing  fluency.
*Examples help learners apply rules already internalized  in a meaningful situation. Rules if abstract, will not be assimilated  by the learner...
The  presentations by the faculty and the learners helped the participants  look at the problems related to teaching and learning English Grammar from different perspectives. Both for the teachers, and the students,  the  ‘Sunday experience’ turned out to be quite fruitful.








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