English Grammar: Who is really learning, the students or the teacher?
In two hours I have to create a fun and interesting lesson on the use of “Can, May & Must” in both present and past tenses…. This is joke right? So I racked my brain for uses of these verbs in a sentence, “I may do my homework… Shit I would say “might”, whats the difference between might and may?” So 30 minutes later of Google searching, one American explains that something you “might do” is less possible than something you “may do”…. Great, now let’s try and explain this to 16yr old French students! Not!
“So then when would you use could? Damn, the English language is so complicated even I do not know to explain it!” I thought. “I’m learning more English than they are!” – The irony!
Could comes from can in that it is something possible that you were able to do in the past. Example: I could play piano when I was taking lessons, but now I cannot. So good, now that I have that cleared up I might…. I mean may be able to teach this lesson. But wait… what’s the difference between should and must?
I mean don’t get me wrong I can write the difference in a sentence, but explaining these concepts in simple English terms to French students? That is a completely different story! However, after a little help from the WorldWideWeb. I was able to answer my questions and now I feel comfortable about teaching them to students. However, these students are taught British English, is this going to embarrass me in front of the class (again) when the teacher corrects me saying, “Um, actually we say this in English” or better yet when I correct a student’s grammar, “*cough* Um, actually in British English we do say that.” Uk: 1, Americans: 0
After my first embarrassing, “*cough* um…” encounter I asked my American English Assistant friend if she had encountered the same issues, and luckily for her she hadn’t! She explained that it is not our job to understand the entirety of the English language and the nuances between countries, but rather, to give the students a taste of fluent English so that they may better comprehend and interact with all English speakers.
I agree, and if nothing else, I believe my purpose is to give these students an experience! Meaning simply that, you will only learn English (or any language for that matter) if you wish to. There is nothing I can do or say to force English into your memory, but what I can do is give you a sort of desire to learn English- that is my hope anyways. Hopefully, I can be fun and energetic and that creates a positive association with the English language and not a negative one: “ugh we have to sit through another hour of English!!!”
So wish me luck in my endeavor to go inspire some disinterested teens in the complicated ways of the English language!
Love, Gabryelle
Please tell me you’ve seen The Oatmeal’s grammar and word usage comics. They’re comedic and effective; you should enjoy them.
DSmith!! How are you? No, I have not read them but I will google them now, thanks 😉
I know you can do this! Diesecting the english language is not easy. Someone once told me that Americans do not speak the “Proper Kings” English. Good Luck with your lesson. Luv you.
Thank you, it was a success and the students’ sentences at the end exhibited that they understood what I said- even if they will not remember it tomorrow 😛