Engaging Activities
Provide a synthesized definition of grammar (from 4 or more people). Provide the reference in APA
format.
The grammar of a language includes basic axioms such as verb tenses, articles and adjectives (and their
proper order), how questions are phrased, and much more. Language cannot function without grammar. It
would simply make no sense—people require grammar to communicate effectively.
British linguist, academic, and author (David Crystal) tells us that "grammar is the study of all the
contrasts of meaning that it is possible to make within sentences. The 'rules' of grammar tell us how. By
one count, there are some 3,500 such rules in English."
Noted novelist and essayist (Joan Didion) "What I know about grammar is its infinite power. To shift the
structure of a sentence alters the meaning of that sentence."
Cognitive psychologist, linguist, and popular science author (Steven Pinker). "[Grammar should not] be
confused with the guidelines for how one 'ought' to speak."
Grammar is the ways that words can be put together in order to make sentences.
The system of rules used to create sentences refers to the knowledge of parts of speech, tenses, phrases,
clauses and syntactic structures used to create grammatically well-formed sentences in English. (Jack
Richards)
Sources
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Crystal, David. The Fight for English. Oxford University Press, 2006.
Pinker, Steven. Words and Rules. Harper, 1999.
Greenbaum, Sidney, and Nelson, Gerald. An Introduction to English Grammar. 2nd ed., Pearson,
2002.
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
PT 1 Directions: Differentiate the following terms and concepts.
1. Grammar and Grammaring
According to Larsen-Freeman, grammar is to be seen as a skill not as a competence, That is,
when we speak or write the English Language we are often involved in doing grammar, whether
consciously or unconsciously, while Grammaring is the process by which a learner acquires the
ability to use grammar structures accurately, meaningfully and appropriately.
2. Error corrections and feedbacking
Error corrections focuses in a negative side of correcting the faulty language behavior of the
students, while feedbacking is a manner or a different approach to help student reshape their
knowledge than telling them directly that they are wrong.
3. Spoken vs Written Grammar
Spoken grammar one can use slang words voluntarily or involuntarily, much more of informal
construction of sentence, while in written grammar are formal approach of construction of
sentence.
Directions: Ponder on the statement:
“Your grammar is a reflection of your image. Good or bad, you have made an impression. And like all
impressions, you are in total control."
-Jeffrey Gitomer
Discuss your agreement or disagreement to the statement above and explain how having this mindset
would influence the teacher, the learners, and how grammar will be taught.
I totally agree, acquiring a skill is not given, equipping oneself with tools and knowledge of how
grammar ought to be taught to the students, the fundamental skill set that the teacher should have in
teaching basic or advance grammar will influence the student to learn and to strive better to have better
understanding in grammar use.