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Importance of correct grammar in university entrance exams

Posted: Tue May 15, 2012 10:40 pm
by BarnetDad
Just been having a bit of a debate with DW regarding the importance of grammar when it comes to university interviews and exam answers. This stems from her disgust and my disappointment and bafflement at our daughters' inability to use "at" and "in" correctly. They might well say "we'll go swimming at France" or something like that, yet are intelligent in other ways.

So are "top universities" very much put off by incorrect grammar? Or is it ideas that they're really interested in (and correctness of grammar an irrelevance)....

Re: Importance of correct grammar in university entrance exa

Posted: Tue May 15, 2012 11:27 pm
by hermanmunster
Few universities set exams or interview...

Oxbridge do some written papers and I suspect they would think it was a little odd .. they also interview everyone.

All medics get interviewed ... I've interviewed students and the spoken grammar was fine - not sure what I would have thought if they said something unusual... probably let it go as we all speak in different ways so long as the meaning is clear - however it really needs to be right if written.

The one you describe was used by my kids until they were about 6 - very curious "at Germany" etc - suppose it is quite confusing for them .. we say we'll stop at Birmingham etc etc ... but not we'll stop at France??

Re: Importance of correct grammar in university entrance exa

Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 9:45 am
by BarnetDad
Good point....

Maybe I could tell them them that it's "in" a "space" and "at" a "place". France is more of a space than a place. When one says "we'll get off the train at Birmingham" it's really the specific place "Birmingham station" that is being meant, I suppose. However, one of the things we disagreed on was where one's supposed to learn how to use language like that. DW thought that it's the school's responsibility, but I blame the parents!

Re: Importance of correct grammar in university entrance exa

Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 10:52 am
by Belinda
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Re: Importance of correct grammar in university entrance exa

Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 11:36 am
by mike1880
And don't get me started on the glottal, sorry I mean glo'al, stop...

I'm the only northerner round our dinner table and also seem to be the only one that knows there's no "arse" in "grass"...

Re: Importance of correct grammar in university entrance exa

Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 3:49 pm
by Samlet
We met a family on holiday once who had moved from London to Birmingham. The mother, in a very cut-glass voice, used to say brightly to her young daughters "Talk like Mummy, not like Brummy".

I amused myself imagining the possible circumstances in which her girls would inevitably repeat this in public and embarrass Mum. :lol: :lol:

Mind you I'm not enjoying the influence of 'estuary' in our household - but the DC tell me that they are considered very posh in the playground so I can't push it too much. But is it too much to ask for the 'l' at the end of words to be pronounced?