Learn how to provide constructive feedback to colleagues struggling with English grammar and help them improve their language skills effectively. (original) (raw)
Last updated on Sep 6, 2024
Your colleague is struggling with English grammar. How can you provide feedback that helps them improve?
Powered by AI and the LinkedIn community
When a colleague struggles with English grammar, it's crucial to approach the matter with sensitivity and practicality to foster improvement and confidence. English grammar can be complex due to its rules and exceptions, making it challenging for non-native speakers. As someone who understands these intricacies, you can offer valuable support by providing clear, constructive feedback tailored to their needs. By focusing on key areas of difficulty and encouraging consistent practice, you can help your colleague develop a stronger grasp of English grammar, enhancing both their communication skills and professional growth.
Top experts in this article
Selected by the community from 17 contributions. Learn more
I use scaffolding with the students I tutor. I would use the same approach with a colleague. That is, I would correct the grammar error in one location on a document, then indicate the other places to correct the same error. If the colleague expressed interest in tackling this error directly, I would suggest free online quizzes and practices: there are many out there, including ones without ads!
Before offering assistance, ensure your colleague is open to feedback. If they are, gather writing samples to pinpoint areas for improvement. Focus on addressing major obstacles to understanding, such as unclear word choice, punctuation, or sentence structure, rather than minor errors. Prioritize these areas for improvement. Additionally, pay attention to your own understanding during conversations. When you encounter difficulty, politely clarify their meaning and model correct language usage. This approach provides a natural opportunity to highlight areas for growth.
If your colleague is keen to receive feedback a simple way of doing this might be by looking at their written English - perhaps in emails. You could reply to the email in question with errors highlighted, giving them the chance to correct it themselves. If you have time, perhaps they could return the email with the corrections made for you to review. For spoken English, you could write down errors you notice as they speak - maybe in a video or a recording - and talk through them to help explain the corrections. Not everything needs correcting - generally just stick to the issues that hinder understanding.
Make sure the individual is open to feedback. Explain its to improve written communication skills not to criticise them. Look for patterns to help pinpoint problem areas
See if your colleague can provide examples as this will show whether they have understood or not. It will also help them to remember the examples better, as they will be more relevant to them.
I try to provide examples within the context or subject matter of what they are writing. I find this helps with application and consistency.
I agree: regular practice and writing helps. But writing consulting a good grammar book. The books used by "Cultura Inglesa"school, for example.( English Culture. That's the way this school is called here in Brazil.)
You could suggest meeting up once a week over lunch and have an informal conversation. See if they can remember the points you discussed last time and use any new vocabulary you introduced.
One thing that I have found very useful is encouraging to practice and offer assistance in that to our colleagues. They should not feel overwhelmed and should be open to change and practicing. Consistent practice at his/her pace can bring miraculous outcomes which can motivate him/her furthermore. But he should not be intimidated hand should enjoy and look forward to the whole thing.
When communicating, refrain from overwhelming others. Consider that some individuals may not be proficient in English, and continually pointing out mistakes can be detrimental. Ensure that your instructions and feedback are clear and concise.
Responding critically to errors is one of the most discouraging things you can do for someone who is learning a language. If you have never learnt one yourself you may not be able to relate to this, but most people have and know that it is very disheartening to have all your mistakes pointed out. Try to find the areas where your colleague has improved, and gently suggest corrections if they have asked for feedback.
Suggest Resources
In addition to direct feedback, recommend resources that can aid your colleague's self-study. There are numerous books, websites, and mobile applications designed for English language learners at various levels. These resources often include explanations of grammatical rules, practice exercises, and quizzes. Directing your colleague to these tools allows them to learn at their own pace and provides extra practice outside of the work environment.
- If your colleague has explicitly asked for feedback, you could recommend some useful study resources for them. Depending on how much time they want to commit to it, you could recommend different sources. For example, websites such as One Stop English, British Council, BBC Learning English all have great free resources for open access learning. Other simple ways of improving language on the go include listening to podcasts such as Learning English Grammar, Espresso English grammar, Level Up English podcast. They could also use apps such as Quizlet, BBC Learning English or Grammarly to test their knowledge.
Follow Up
Finally, make sure to follow up with your colleague after giving feedback. Check in periodically to discuss their progress and any new challenges they may be facing. This shows that you're invested in their improvement and willing to assist them over time. Regular follow-ups also provide opportunities to adjust the learning plan as needed and ensure that your colleague is on the right track towards better grammatical proficiency.
- Always take an interest by following up with your colleague. Remember at follow up, its about how they feel they're improving as well as what you see.
Rate this article
We created this article with the help of AI. What do you think of it?
Thanks for your feedback
Your feedback is private. Like or react to bring the conversation to your network.
``
More relevant reading
``