Module 5, Assignment 2: How would you teach grammar in the classroom
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When it comes to teaching grammar, several things should be considered, mainly age group and English level. When teaching younger students, I prefer to use an informal approach. I first choose to teach vocabulary and later add simple grammar to supplement the vocabulary students have already learned. For example, if students have previously learned numbers and fruit, I could teach them how to count strawberries. I would start by saying, “One strawberry.” Then, “Two strawberries, three strawberries,” ect. with emphasis on the “ies” part of strawberries. Students then learn this grammar in a natural way without excessive drilling or repetition.
Regarding older students, I still feel it is best to learn grammar in a natural way by reading and listening, but this is not always possible as some students will only be studying English in class. In this case, it is necessary to teach grammar in a somewhat structured way. I teach grammar as part of a lesson rather than the main focus. For example, if the students are studying a passage from the text, sentences with particularly difficult grammar can be highlighted and discussed. Other example sentences can be provided that follow a similar pattern.
Finally, if students ask me for ways that they can improve their vocabulary and grammar outside of class, I will recommend that they learn by reading and listening to any material that is made for native speakers. Although this method takes a lot of time, I still believe that students who learn in this way will have stronger grammar and recollection than those who study in a rigid, structured format.
Teaching grammar to younger students i keep it simple for them to learn so i light hearted approach in teaching,but still strict enough that they learn.I find flash cards are a great tool,as the student learn what you are teaching but i are also able to see,so understand and absorb better(that is my experience only).Get the students to speak out loud by starting sentences yourself as the teacher and let a student finish them,if wrong correct them and ask them to say it again.
With older and more advanced students writing is more a better option i find.Short stories,on subjects or interests.Get them to check each others work and correct mistakes.Use sentences out of books,read them out to the class,and get the students to identify the Verbs,Nouns,Adjectives,Pronouns etc and write them down.But make sure you can make this part of the learning process interesting and enjoyable,because if you are going to get students loosing interest and side tracked,this is the part of teaching most likely for it to happen.
As I teach grammar to younger kids, I simply correct them whenever they make a mistake, for example, when they say the sentence pattern of “I like _____”, and the student makes a mistake of saying, “I like swim.” I correct them by saying, “Say ‘I like swimming. I like running. I like sleeping.” , emphasizing on the “- ing”.
For older kids, I ask them about any particular experience (i.e.,summer vacation, math class in school), and ask them to make correct sentences according to a grammar topic discussed. I also like to play grammar games with them such as the “Umm” game (Pls. see my module regarding “Games”) to practice them on how to be fluent and to avoid grammar mistakes.
Personally I would be inclined to use a functional approach to teaching grammar, basing the learning around themes or events rather than a rigid approach. Whilst both approaches certainly have their merits, in teaching young children, I would tend towards the former in order to keep the lesson content as engaging, entertaining and practical as possible. With older students one might want to reinforce their grammar knowledge through more structured teaching methods, but the younger the students, the greater the need to lighten the approach and make the potentially tedious part of learning a language as “bite-size” & painless as possible