Incorporating Grammar Teaching

into the Communicative

Classroom

How do you teach Grammar?

Do you think your “system” is effective?

Why?

What is Grammar?Grammar is a set of rules that define how words (or parts of

words) are combined or changed to form acceptable units within a

language.However, Grammar is THE TOTAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE LANGUAGE.

IT INCLUDES SYNTAX, PHONOLOGY, MORPHOLOGY,

SEMANTICS, AND PRAGMATICS.

A False Assumption

Grammar Form

Communication Meaning

What is the real Role of Grammar Teaching in the

classroom?

Use

Grammar

Form

Meaning

Diane Larsen-Freeman, 2003

What do we mean by FORM, MEANING and

USEForm – Accuracy – How is the Form – Accuracy – How is the

structure formed?structure formed?

Meaning – Meaningfulness – What does the structure

mean?

Use – Appropriatness – When or why is the structure used?

Diane Larsen-Freeman, 2003

What do we mean by FORM, MEANING and

USEExample: You should go to the

dentist. 

Form: SHOULD+V-(BASE FORM)?

 Meaning: I recommend, I

suggest. 

Use:to give advice in a polite way.

 

The Organization of Grammar Teaching

 

1. Communicative objective2. Presentation3. Isolation and Explanation4. Practice5. Production6. Test

Penny Ur, 1988

Presentation

Examples: Written text (dialog, article, poem,

story, etc.) Picture or realia Songs or chants.

Presentation

Written text:dialog,article,poem, story, etc.

BethHer voice is softer than the song of birds Her lips are redder than roses Her hair is blacker than ebony Her smile is more valuable than ivory for me She makes me crazy like Luna I can't buy her heart with a great number of diamonds Because she is so proud and independent.

Life

Sometimes beautiful like a spring flower

Sometimes terrible like a forest after fire

Sometimes crazier than a mountain stream

Sometimes calmer than a small lake

Sometimes as bright as a night star

Sometimes as shady as a morning fog

Life as life

Presentation

Picture or realia

When I was a child,my father used to take me to the park.

Presentation

Songs or chants.

Close your eyes, give me your hand, darling Do you feel my heart beating, do you

understand? Do you feel the same, am I only dreaming?

Is this burning an eternal flame?

Song: Eternal Flame by The Bangles

Presentation

Tips: Make it obvious. Orally and written. Show rules not

exceptions.

Isolation and Explanation

Content: Form-Meaning-Use Inductive-

Deductive Pronunciation

Isolation and Explanation

Content: Form-Meaning-Use

Task: Let’s analyze some structures:

Simple Past Tense

Simple Present Tense

Present Perfect

Isolation and Explanation

Content: Inductive-

Deductive Presenting Rules

only?

Deriving Rules from Examples?

Presenting Examples only?

Isolation and Explanation

Content: Pronunciation

Special cases, such as:

Plural endings (-s)

Past tense of regular verbs (ed)

Isolation and Explanation

Tips: Go inductive. Involve students. Keep it short and

focused.

Practice Forms: Controlled

Slot fillers, Transformation, Multiple choice, Matching, etc.

Semi-controlled Slot fillers/Multiple choice based on meaning Slot filler with choice of answers not

provided Free

Information gap Giving opinions Defending points of view

Practice

Forms: Controlled

Slot fillers, Transformation, etc. Examples:

He is …. boy. We have ….. umbrella. (Use a or an)

This is a woman (plural) ……………

Practice

Forms: Semi-controlled

Slot fillers/Multiple choice based on meaning Examples

My classroom is ……… My classes (begin/finish/study) at 8am.

Slot filler with choice of answers not provided Examples

I like …….. I hate …………..

Practice

Forms:

Free Information gap

Examples: Writing stories to practice past tense. Role-playing a dialog based on a given

situation and using certain structures. Participating in a group debate with people for

and against a controversial topic.

Practice

Tips:Little by little.Pick and choose.The more the merrier.Use different sources

YouColleaguesBooks Internet

Test

Definition: Students have to demonstrate they can

correctly produce the structure in real context.

How: Pair or group work non-controlled

activities. Oral presentations. Extended written assignments. Role-plays based on several topics.

Test

Tips:Seek both fluency and

accuracy.Provide detailed,

comprehensible feedback.DO correct.

How to explain Grammar

The Deductive Approach

The Inductive Approach

Introducing grammar deductively

Presentation of a Rule

Examples

A Deductive Approach

It starts with the presentation of a rule and it is followed by

examples in which the rule is applied.

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Deductive Approach

It gets straight to the point.It respects the intelligence and maturity of students who expect to receive rules.It allows teachers to control language points.

However;It may be boring for some students.It encourages teacher-centered classes.It makes students believe that learning a language means simply knowing the rules

Introducing grammar inductively

Examples

Inference of the Rule

An Inductive Approach

It starts with some examples from which

a rule is inferred.

Advantages and Disadvantages of an Inductive Approach

Rules that learners discover by themselves are more likely to fit their existing mental structures.Students are more actively involved in the learning process.

But, It may take longer than expected.Students may hypothesize the wrong rule.It frustrates students who would prefer to be told the rule.

Conclusion

Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing = to communicate or to get meaning

Likewise, Grammaring = transmitting meaning

Grammarians?? Grammar Users??

End of Presentation

Thank you!Prepared by: Miss Evelyn Becerra Ayala

EFL Coordinator