This blog captures my tryst with English grammar for the past few months. It will take into account the topics that were explained to Vocational Trainees. The sad thing about this blog is that the first version of the same was in inadvertently deleted from my PC. The lesson is learned in the hard way and now i am better equipped when it comes to preparing a blog. I am using Evernote for creating the first draft of the blog. The app is available in both my iPhone and iPad. So it is easy to sync using the Internet. There is no hassle of copying into a flash or a HDD. It simply synchronizes with the server. The updated file can be accessed in my Iphone and Ipad and even my PC. I plan to write about some of my the most common topics that are taught here. There is no in-depth analysis of language sentences or structures. The basic building blocks of language is discussed in a practical way. The grammatical items are not studied in isolation but seen in the context of their daily usage. The methodology that I have adopted is based on the premise that language is used to describe the world. If that is the case then grammar helps in the correct way of describing the world. In other words grammar helps the user of any language to speak or write in an accepted way with the other users of the same language. The methodology also takes into account the users experience with the language. The learner should have minimal competence in the language especially grammar.
The first grammatical item he or she will be introduced to will be - verbs,nouns and adjectives. Using pictures and other audio visual aids learner will get to the know the types of actions and how the actions are described using adjectives.
Tom kicked the ball swiftly - Noun + Verb + Noun + Adjective
This combination is used especially to talk about people and to describe their actions. At this stage the details of these grammatical items are not divulged. There is no references to pronouns, regular/ irregular and comparatives. These topics will introduced at a later stage.
In the next stage, the concept of prepositions is introduced - of time, of place and of movement. This will enhance the linguistic descriptive power of the learner. If the need arises, there can also be training in Numbers,mathematical register, weather and even time expressions. As a follow up to the prepositions the idea of imperatives also can be introduced. Directions and verbal walk-throughs can be arranged in such a way that there is an integrated approach towards learning. As an addition interrogatives also can be taught here as they are required to ask for directions.
Once the learner has grappled with the above mentioned topics, the next level of grammar topics can be introduced starting with comparatives, modal auxiliaries, abilities and possibilities, some tense items like - present continuous and future ( using will and going to). These topics will reinforce what he or she has learned and will give a better understanding of English Grammar. Once these stage is achieved then new can slowly moved towards analysis of single sentences and then on to complex paragraphs. It will be more like a poetry appreciation class, where the learner is asked to jot down the grammatical items that he can identify in the text. These textual dissections calls for a large amount of discussions and debates and the use of a standard reference book for consultation.
Grammar teaching can be made quite interesting by using various audio visual aids. The first foremost aid is the dictionary either in the soft copy of hard copy format. Then the use of language softwares like Face to Face and Language in Use. There are also several podcasts available from the BBC like Grammar challenge. There is also a useful podcast by the name Grammar girl.
Thus Grammar learning is never a boring thing. It can be made interesting and result oriented. The methodology or the approach matters a lot.
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Friday, 10 June 2011
Sunday, 5 June 2011
Saturday, 4 June 2011
Notes from Warren Buffets Management Secrets – Audio book version - Read by Mary Buffet.
There are some quick tests which can be applied to see whether the company that is going to employ you is in good shape. It is always good to check the yearly per share earnings. A company that shows consistency and exhibiting an upward trend will always excel in business. Erratic earnings are not a good sign. Absence of long term debts will also serve as an indicator to the health quotient of the company. By gauging the debt load of the company one will know the strength of the company. These companies will have a long term serving history. The company also should have high competitive interests and excess capital. The managerial opportunities of the company should also be good because that will prevent the company from going under. The most important that should be considered is the DCA – Durable competitive advantage. It is long term and helps the company to stay afloat maintaining the competitive edge.
The book also discusses the idea of delegation. Delegation becomes more important when one is involved in more diverse businesses. There is a philosophy behind the art of delegation. It is all about delegating the authority. Delegating to a certain extent can be equated with the idea of abdicating. Delegation is not a desirable idea in micro-managing. It is always good to delegate the job to better job and manager. Delegation involves a certain amount of decision power also. Once you are delegated a task you are wholly responsible for the decisions that you make. There are three rules governing the application of rules in delegation.
1) Every business culture is unique
2) Competent managers should be left alone to run their own businesses.
3) Managers should be hardworking, passionate and intelligent. They should also have great deal of integrity – This rule applies to the concept of making the right choice when selecting a manager to delegate your work
The manager chosen for the task should possess proven track record. He should be ready to take chances. He should possess the managerial talent to become the turnaround artist. A manager should increase the revenues and free up the capital for diverse investments. The most important thing is not to change the managers frequently.
The next chapter discusses the concepts of victor or victim. We should also be true to ourselves. There is always an inner and outer report card. Warren was deeply influenced by his father – Howard. The ‘internal locus of control’ is the catch phrase that shows how responsible you are for your actions and words. When you win you are the one who will win and when you lose you are the one lost it. It is better not to dwell too long on failures and also take responsibility for the failures. Victors always make good managers. Victims meanwhile are busy blaming the world and finding lame excuses. To be a victor it is always good to work at a job you love – You will jump out of your bed early in the morning because the love for your job will beat even the best alarm clock available in the market. What we love in the name of greed is a bad management. Victors likes doing what they love, money is not driving them. People who rise to the top are the ones who love what they do. People love to hire individuals who will take pride in their work.
The next chapter discusses how to put a winning sales team together. The team essentially should have a passion for the product that they are selling. The team should comprise of people who believes in the product. One question that any employer would like to ask to his prospective employee will be – How obsessed are you with the job? The anecdote of a lady who lived till the age of 104 taking care of her store is the best example of a passionate being who loved what she did. In fact she didn’t go for any vacation because she felt miserable when she stayed away from the store. Her only hobby was to drive around the town checking the competition level from other stores. All the top managers in any firm are obsessed with their work. They are all love the business. If you are smart manager than that is the icing on the obsessively delicious cake.
The next chapter talks about how honest plays a major part in today’s business. The words candor and candid plays a big role in making your business establishment a success. This is one of the key character traits to aspire to. A CEO who misleads others in public will also mislead them in private. Managers who promise to make the numbers will also make up the numbers.
There is a chapter devoted to the concept of managing costs. Profit is the life blood of the business. Managers should be cost conscious but should not be fanatical about the same. Benjamin Franklin has remarked that if you know how to spend less than what you get, and then you can have the philosopher’s stone. Cutting cost is the fastest and easiest way to increase the bottom line.
Friday, 3 June 2011
The Boy in the pumpkin field
He got up early in the morning. He is used to this routine especially when the pumpkins are ready to be harvested. He looked through the window and saw the pumpkins lying in the field. Today they will be taken out and will be sold in the market. He heard his father call out his name. He rushed outside to see his father and mother loading the pumpkins in the pick up truck. He too joined them. Once the loading was done he was asked to sit in the front seat of the truck. His father bade farewell to his mother and got beside him. The engine roared to life and soon they were on their way to the pumpkin market.The boy stared at the passing houses and thought about the people who are sleeping. He saw some children walk towards the school for early lessons.they arrived at the pumpkin market and he helped his father to unload.He was asked to sit amidst the pumpkins while his father went around the market. He was looking at other pumpkin traders who were sitting beside. He felt so insignificant among the big and rounded pumpkins. He took out a knife from his fathers satchel and started chopping the pumpkins. He wanted the pumpkins to disappear from his life forever.
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