Memoirs of a Language Trainer

Error-nalities!

2005-12-20T06:44:00.000-08:00

I have a range of “raw material” to work with. Many of them do not have the confidence in the use of the language; the other extreme being those who speak well but in long winded sentences, often repeating the same idea.

Here is a brief of a few characteristic errors that I come across in every batch.

Devoted to ‘So’ - Using the word “So” to begin sentences, connect parts of sentences or to add any new information to previously mentioned ideas. They cannot speak if they haven’t used a ‘So’

Dutiful to And - And then there is this character, who has to use and before, after and in-between every half a sentence. It sounds more of a mutter than a word, and can be unnoticeably trivial, nevertheless an error.

Nothing like ‘like’ - This is a person who uses a lot of language but has limited vocabulary so ends up generalizing whatever he says with a ‘like’- Something ‘like’ that, things ‘like’ that etc. In effect, the person sounds unsure.

The Hi Fi – This type is not so common but still exists. They speak in a hi pitch with a rate of speech which could challenge your listening capabilities.

The Native - I call this type the Native because there is a outsized influence of the first language in his way of speech. He would sound sensible and perfect if only you could listen to him with the “interpreter” on.

The Resonance – As you rightly guessed, this chap has to fill spaces between words and ideas with a hum. A hum that he will not be even aware of unless pointed out at every occasion. It’s a part of his personality. When ever he pauses to think what to say next, you would hear the hummmmm.

Like Edward de Bono and his Six thinking Hats funda, I have classified the first six that are the most common “errornalities” that I come across.

I will write about more types in another post!

On my own!

2005-11-06T05:54:00.000-08:00

Yes! Shiksha took shape in August 2005, after a lot of thought, discussion and advice! Though it took time to take this first BIG step, I am glad I finally had the conviction to. The first two batches have gone well too. There is more in the offing and I look forward to the first anniversary already!

CommITed to training!

2005-01-30T16:43:00.000-08:00

I am on a CommIT program and it feels good. More than one reason for that. I am incharge of a first batch of trainees from a new client. Its the first ever CommIT program for the company in the city. This is my FIRST brush with a bunch of nerds from the IT industry at close range! Well, for starters , they don't seem to be charged about anything but application servers. I am on a ten day program and have to complete four modules in Communication. Wish me luck!

Different Strokes

2004-11-21T23:33:00.000-08:00

I was involved in a neutralization program for nineteen help desk engineers who have been in a non voice support function with the company. First, they were not motivated to unlearn their way of speak. They were a bunch of guys who were moved to a voice process with no choice of their own. To motivate the learning it took more than the time otherwise allotted. And Boy! Did I have to device new ways of facilitating learning in this group. To add to the ordeal, they were this confident group with the 'I-Can't- lose- my-job- because- of- my- language- skills' attitude. But at the end of it, I have emerged a winner.

My first 20

2004-09-23T04:21:00.000-07:00

I am about four batches old- in training jargon- and that gives me enough courage to comment on how my trainees have been from my first batch of twenty. I was absolutely 'raw' myself. Fresh out of training. Except for the time that I had spent' shadowing' some senior trainers at Bangalore and the sessions that I handled when I was there, I had spent little time preparing to what lie ahead. Ofcourse, I had access to the manuals and my ever so important 'training notes' that I had faithfully written down when I was training. Today, I can tell you that if I have shown any confidence in my first ever sessions , it was all thanks to the 'TOT Notes' that have become like a bible to me, to use an old cliche.

I had put together, painstakingly. a list of things I would require before the session started. It pays to be prepared - my domain head tells me. It did. My first batch of trainees didn't have a clue that it was my first ever batch and it clearly showed in how they performed. Now, when I look back, I see where I could have been better but when I was there, I was on a roll!

A few batches later, I still think back on the few who will always be fresh in my mind. I have learnt from every one of them. For every batch that followed, I have had 'specimens' from my first ever batch to draw paralleles with. Surprisingly, I find that every batch that has followed since, have had one similar 'case' who could be compared with someone from my first twenty- error wise or otherwise!

To all those twenty who have helped me transform into the person I am today and to all the other 'twenty's" who have followed... Cheers!

Learnings

2004-09-20T22:23:00.000-07:00

It would take me two months later to realize that a miniscule part I played during one of the many' meet- the-client' visits of my company, will pay off. I was given an 'outstanding contribution' award from my company acknowledging that I was instrumental in pounding one of the many important 'nails' home which enticed the client into using our training services.

Ours was the newest centre in the city I live, 17th in the list of centres of the company but new nevertheless, I was the first trained trainer that the company could boast of in the new centre and the responsibility of conveying the message of how effective our programs were, lay heavily on my shoulders. Not that I lacked in knowledge or content, but to be assessed for language skills, that one was sure of till three weeks before, was a little challenging! In retrospect, I don't see how I could have failed. I had this exceptional confidence in me, thanks to my domain head. It had to work!

The begining

2004-09-20T21:56:00.000-07:00

The first time I was spoken to by my domain head about what it would entail to be a language trainer, I thought it would come easy to me, since I was not known to make mistakes of any nature in english, both written and spoken. But, was I in for a surprise. The whole summer vacation days went by with me training to be trainer for three weeks. Our sessions would start early morning at 9 and would invariably go on till late evenings with short breaks in between. But at the end of three weeks, I emerged a humbler myself. I had time to reflect, express and offer in a spirit of submission, that I had learnt the language all over again.

2004-09-09T08:24:00.000-07:00

When I was twelve years younger, I was clueless what I would be doing twelve years from then. Now when I look back, I wonder how I had never known that I would be the happiest when I was talking to people all the time! And in a language I enjoy.