A SHORT PIECE ON TEACHING GRAMMAR
Grammar is essential when we think about teaching and learning foreign
languages. It is also, undoubtedly, one of the most difficult aspects to teach and
learn. Unfortunately, there is no shortcut to learning English grammar but it is
up to teachers whether the process is more enjoyable and fun.
Foreign language teachers and teacher trainers differ in their opinions
about the importance of grammar in the second language classroom and the
methods and techniques of teaching it vary considerably. It cannot be disputed,
however, that grammatical competence is an integral part of communicative
language ability and there are several reasons why learning grammar should be
considered as a very important issue:
-without grammar, clear communication is nearly impossible. Proper grammar
helps you express your feelings and intentions clearly without being
misunderstood;
-the ability to recognize and to produce well-formed sentences is an essential
part of mastering a second language;
-grammar offers the learners the means for potentially limitless linguistic
creativity;
-good grammar is considered to be a mark of intelligence and education.
Teaching grammar can be hard and painful for both the teacher and the
pupils but does it necessarily have to be so? We can teach English grammar
using fun learning activities which will greatly influence our pupils’ enthusiasm
and motivation to learn and this is especially true in reference to younger pupils.
There are vast numbers of enjoyable, creative, fun activities which can make our
grammar lessons less difficult and boring for our pupils.
One of the most popular of those activities are SONGS which have many
advantages as means of teaching English. They are a great source of authentic
language input. Language learned in songs is more easily retained and
memorable. Songs propose a change from habitual classroom actions and
through using modern popular songs, the teacher can meet the challenges of the
teenage needs in the classroom. There is a vide range of exercises which can be
used while teaching grammar with songs, including completing cloze exercises,
sequencing, completing charts, analyzing and discussing grammar usage,
alternatives and meanings, listening for specific words and structures, etc.
An example of a great song for teaching the present simple tense,
particularly the rule concerning the –s ending in the third person singular, is
Alesha Dixon’s “The boy does nothing”. The song lyrics can be found on, e.g.,
www.elyrics.net. The second kind of activities that are especially popular
among pupils are GAMES. They are one of the most preferable communicative
activities. Games have a purpose and are enjoyable. Games require group work.
Play and competition provided by games enhance motivation. Moreover, games
reduce stress.
This word search exercise on compound nouns is an excellent example of
games well enjoyed by pupils. Another way of practicing compound nouns or
other issues would be for students to make their own word search grids.
POEMS can be used to review and reinforce grammar rules, they
contextualize a grammar lesson effectively. A poem is an effective tool for
practicing a specific grammatical structure. Teachers can base their lessons on
already existing poems or they can ask their pupils to create simple poems on
their own. So, when we teach, e.g., imperatives we can use a poem by Michael
Rosen entitled “Don’t put mustard in the custard” which can be found on
www.funtrivia.com.
VISUALS provide practical solutions to problems which every teacher
equipped with only books and classroom faces. They help pupils understand by
bringing them in direct contact with objects and things, they involve a number of
the learners’ senses and they provide variety. Visuals make teaching effective by
creating situations for presentation and practice of language items and help in
formation of language habits by repetition and practice. Aditionally, they
provide recreation.
Cartoons are a fun way of presenting various grammar issues.
- an example of a passive structure
-an example of comparative forms of adjectives
Or
-to practice „used to”.
Other great visuals are flashcards, videos, graphs, clocks as well as
boards. Teachers can make use of all the already existing visuals or they can
devise their own ones.
All the above mentioned activities are only but a few examples of fun and
enjoyable activities to be used during grammar lessons. There are also
interactive exercises, role play activities or jokes that can be included in our
lessons with the purpose of making them more interesting and effective.
Learning and teaching grammar rules does not have to be boring or
difficult if we are ready and willing to make a little effort and if we take
advantage of the many English grammar teaching tools that are widely available.
Bibliography:
Purpura, J. “Assessing grammar”, CUP, 2004
Thornbury, S. “How to teach grammar”, Longman, 1999
www.ac-nancy-metz.fr
www.bored.com
www.elyrics.net
www.esl.about.com
www.furtivia.com
www.photos1.blogger.com
www.problogger.net
By Anita Rzemińska