The Role of Grammar The Role of Grammar in the Curriculumin the Curriculum
Michael E. Rudder, Ph.D.Regional English Language Officer
U.S. Embassy
Pre-CLT:Pre-CLT: Post-CLT:Post-CLT:
-Prescriptive -Descriptive
-Correction (accuracy) -selection (appropriate option)
-minimal context -broad context (utterance/sentence)(discourse)
-formal (rules/forms) -functional (use in communication)
Pre-CLT:Pre-CLT: Post-CLT:Post-CLT:
-taught deductively -taught inductively
-discrete items of study -integrated with skills
-decontextualized -contextualized
Grammar: Grammar: To teach or not to teach?To teach or not to teach?
What is unconsciously absorbed by natural acquisition is refined by conscious learning.(Stephen Krashen)
The importance of grammar can be derived from the proficiencies developed by the language curriculum.
(Jack Richards) Grammar affects performance in all four skills:
listening, speaking, reading, and writing. (Diane Larsen-Freeman)
DeductiveDeductive vs. Inductivevs. InductiveDeductive Individual learning styles/preferences Favored by some older and analytically-minded
learnersInductive More like natural language acquisition Conforms more to concept of interlanguage
development Communicative “feel” for language Intrinsic motivation
Grammar Practice Grammar Practice (Larsen-Freeman)(Larsen-Freeman)
Form-based
Meaning-based
Communicative-based
Form-based Form-based Production Production (Penny Ur)(Penny Ur)
1. Awareness2. Controlled drills3. Meaningful drills4. Guided meaningful practice5. Structure-based free sentence
composition6. Structure-based discourse7. Free discourse
Other ConsiderationsOther Considerations Mode of presentation (oral/written)
Terminology
Language (L1 or L2)
Explanation (balance between accuracy and simplicity)
Some RecommendationsSome Recommendations Practice reflecting authentic language
in real life contexts Integration with four basic skills Use of visual aids
(charts/graphs/maps/pictures/realia) Attention to purpose and communicative need Motivation (humor/games/“personalization”)
Alabama Love PoemAlabama Love Poem
Non-standard Grammar
1. Emphasis: Ain’t = negative + BE (am/is/are + not) (often used with double negative) Done + verb form (...done fell/eat/left) (used for present perfect tense)
2. Ellipsis: yo’ = your mo’ = more ‘bout = about ya’ = you
Other vocabularyOther vocabulary
just as soon = ratherhalf brother / sister = having one parent in common
but with a different father or motherkin = family relationgal = girlfather = pa, pappy, pop, pops, dad, daddymother = ma, mama, mammy, mom, mommy
Alabama Love PoemAlabama Love PoemSusie Lee done fell in love;She planned to marry Joe.
She was so happy ‘bout it allShe told her Pappy so.
Pappy told her, “Susie gal,You’ll have to find another.
I’d just as soon yo’ Ma don’t know,But Joe is yo’ half brother.”
AnonymousAnonymous
So Susie put aside her JoeAnd planned to marry Will.But after telling Pappy this,
He said, “There's trouble still.
You can’t marry Will, my gal,And please don’t tell your Mother,But Will and Joe and several mo’
I know is yo’ half brother.”
But Mama knew and said, “My child,Just do what makes ya’ happy.
Marry Will or marry Joe.You ain’t no kin to Pappy.”
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