Appearing in tests and examinations is a process every student goes through in life. And you would agree that taking examinations is an interesting journey, especially when one achieves the expected outcomes. However, many a time, students fail to reach the intended targets. On the one hand, some students who are not serious have obvious reasons for not getting good results. On the other hand, there are very good and hardworking students who, despite putting in extra efforts, either get late in getting the desired results or do not get it at all.

Regarding failure among students, one common reason I have observed is the poor command of students on the basics of the English language. Since it is the medium of communication and education in most good schools in Pakistan, a good number of students know the intricate details or concepts, yet they have grey areas in the rudimentary concepts. Therefore, students struggle in various examinations since they are unable to comprehend and communicate in the correct way.

Regardless of whether someone is taking a test or not, working on the basics of English will make a student’s life easier in the years to come. To do that, students must keep several tips in mind when studying.

English as a subject

Mastering the intricacies of a language is not easy, particularly when it is not our mother tongue, as in the case of English. Thus, it is no wonder that English is a subject where most students face difficulty, particularly during examinations. Grammar and writing good English are the two areas in which students do not develop sound concepts. During lessons, students pay more attention to subjects such as science ones and maths, rather than English because they believe scoring well in those subjects will be useful for their higher studies.

I have met students who

were not able to differentiate between the use of a singular and a plural subject. Similarly, other students were not able to write an error-free paragraph or a story in English language.

Working on English grammar

To speak or write in any language, the first step is knowing the correct usage of grammar. Since English is taught as a subject in schools, students have specific books in the curriculum. Hence, to work on the ‘grammar’ portion, it is mandatory that students perform the exercises given at the end of the chapters. If there are major mistakes in the attempt, students must seek help and guidance from the subject teacher.

Students can also consult an elder in the family who knows these concepts. For those students who seriously wish to learn more about English grammar, English Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy is an excellent book and it can be studied without a teacher. Besides, if you have any other good books on English language and grammar, you can go through them as well.

Having a good command of grammar is a prerequisite to speaking and writing well in English, or any other language.

Writing good English

Keeping in view the connection of correct grammar with writing good English, the former must be done first before moving to the latter. To write well, students need to read a lot.

The activity of reading is a subjective topic; students can pick a book on a topic they are interested in. If students do not know about the names of books, simply consult a teacher or an elder who has knowledge about books. If you do not find any, simply pick up The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

All books are good, nonetheless, whatever book you choose, it should be a good one, since it will show you what good writing it. So while reading, you must be keen on observing the use of words and sentences. You should note carefully when and how to use simple, compound or complex sentences.

Furthermore, you need to write something of your choice initially daily. You can write about your experience of the school that day or about your visit to the nearby market. You should write something daily for at least 30 days. This way your flair will develop, and words will start to flow easier from your pen.

It will help you even more if you ask a senior or a teacher to evaluate your writing. If there are any errors, the instructor will identify them for you and suggest recommended ways to overcome the flaws. With the passage of time, you would be able to evaluate your writings on your own.

Speaking good English

Speaking skills in examinations are tested in oral tests or interviews. To speak well, one should listen attentively. The relationship between listening and speaking is the same as the relationship between reading and writing. As compared to reading, listening is a comparatively easier activity.

There are various ways of performing this activity. One way is listening to the news for half an hour every day, and by listening I do not mean listening to it on the radio only. You can watch and listen on TV, through website or in any other form — you just need to be exposed to hearing good English being spoken in a good accent.

Likewise, you can watch a documentary in English. Watching some good movies is not a bad option either. More importantly, communicating with a friend in English is a tested technique of improving speaking skills.

Listening to the news will not only help you polish your listening skills, it will also keep you updated about the happenings around the world. You can also incorporate some news items you hear about in your daily writing activity.

Whether it is English writing or speaking, practice makes a person perfect. So the more your practice using English in your everyday life, the better you will become in it in your academic life. Good luck!

Published in Dawn, Young World, January 13th, 2024