''People is very friendly''

[zonky]

Hi, my head is spinning and my brain is tired... could you please help me?

OK, "people is very friendly" should obviously be "people are very friendly", which makes the statement a grammar error.. correct?
If I had to correct a foreign student that has made this statement verbally, how would I go about it? And what would be a good clear explanation of the error made?

Any help given will be much appreciated!
kind regards

[mykwyner]

The word people is always a plural, and requires a plural verb.