Fear not, Grammar is easy!

Throughout my teaching career, one prevailing observation has been that a significant majority of the students (over 75%) harbour apprehensions when it comes to learning English grammar.

Over time, I have come to realize that these anxieties are consistently widespread, spanning across different groups of learners, be it school students, candidates enrolled for professional tests such as the Occupational English Test (OET), or even college students.

Some of the reasons that I could identify were:

1. Complexity: Feeling overwhelmed by rules, exceptions, and variations.
2. Embarrassment: Worried about being judged or perceived as unintelligent.
3. Lack of exposure/grammar education: Limited understanding of grammar rules.
4. Cultural and social pressure: Correct grammar as a symbol of education, intelligence, or social status.

But should we fear grammar? No... No…Not at all!

Think about your mother tongue. Do you know the rules, exceptions, and variations of your mother tongue’s grammar?

Do you ever worry about making mistakes while using the mother tongue?

Does the limited understanding of its grammar rules result in fear and insecurity?

Very few of you would have answered in the positive, but that did not in any way stop you from communicating your thoughts or expressing your opinions without any hesitation in your mother tongue.

Then, why do you fear English grammar?

While grammar is essential for effective communication, making mistakes is a natural part of the learning process. So go ahead, make mistakes. Let that fear be your greatest strength.

Following are 3 simple ways you can overcome that fear without being bogged down:

#1 Keep it simple. Don't stress yourself out by trying to memorize all the grammar rules and exceptions at once. Instead, begin with the basics like Parts of Speech, which are the most common and essential grammar points.

Practice them regularly until you feel confident and have mastered them. Taking it step by step will make learning grammar much easier and more enjoyable!

#2 Use online resources.
There are many websites, apps and software that can help you learn and improve your English grammar. Some of them such as ‘Grammarly’ are free and easy to use.

Once you've learned something new, give it a try by writing a paragraph using what you've just learned. If you want to make sure it's correct, you can use apps to check it for you.

#3 Seek help. You don’t always have to learn grammar by yourself. Whenever you are confused or in doubt, be courageous to ask for clarifications and seek advice.

Find a teacher, a tutor, a friend, or a language partner. You can also join online forums, groups, or communities where you can interact with other learners such as this forum.