When grammar meets real life

One of the most common challenges English learners face is modal verbs — words like can, might, should, must. They seem simple on the surface, but each carries subtle shades of meaning. Learners often confuse them because their own languages may use completely different structures. For example, in Vietnamese or Thai, obligation and possibility are expressed with separate verb forms or particles. For learners, English modals can feel like a maze.

As I work through my TESOL qualification, I see this not just as an abstract grammar problem but as a reflection of my own professional journey. Coming from a diverse background — corporate communications, journalism, career development, and now language teaching — I’ve often had to navigate multiple “registers” of communication. Switching between corporate reports, creative writing, and teaching materials feels not unlike shifting between the nuanced meanings of must, should, and might.

In corporate life, saying “We must act” carries urgency and authority. As a writer, “We might act” opens up possibility and exploration. As a teacher, I now have to explain to learners that this isn’t just vocabulary — it’s a cultural and communicative choice that shapes how we connect with others.

For my students, mastering modals isn’t only about grammar accuracy. It’s about finding the right level of certainty, politeness, or persuasion in their new language. And for me, this teaching moment feels like a mirror: my own career has been about learning when to be certain, when to hedge, and when to keep possibilities open.

That’s why I find teaching grammar both challenging and rewarding. It’s never just about rules. It’s about helping people express themselves with the precision, nuance, and confidence that opens doors — whether in education, work, or everyday life.