How do I teach grammar?

“Grammar is the structural foundation of our ability to express ourselves. The more we are aware of how it works, the more we can monitor the meaning and effectiveness of the way we and others use language. It can help foster precision, detect ambiguity, and exploit the richness of expression available in English. And it can help everyone--not only teachers of English, but teachers of anything, for all teaching is ultimately a matter of getting to grips with meaning.” (David Crystal, “In Word and Deed,” TES Teacher, April 30, 2004)

When teaching grammar, the teacher should have a understanding of Standard English, grammar, and the value of studying grammar in order to properly teach grammar in an ESL classroom. Standard English is difficult because people view it as the “correct” way to use English and has been referred to as a “dialect”. However, Standard English depends on where in the world the English is being used because each region has their idea of what is “correct”. Standard English is taught in schools, appears in print, and heard on news broadcasts or documentaries. Growing up, I did not know anyone with a difference accent, or Standard English, until I had a friend from New Zealand move to my school in High School. We thought it was weird the way she pronounced certain words.

The grammar of Standard English is more uniformed than Standard English is itself because of the varieties of English usage. There are fewer questions about what is grammatically correct than what is the “correct” way to pronounce words and proper ways to use English. Initially, I never thought about the Standard English and grammar being different. I thought what was taught in school was the only “correct” way to pronounce words, write, and speak English.

How will I help students learn the grammar they need? How do I teach grammar?

These are two important questions when working in an ESL classroom. Thinking about my ESL classroom, I believe that although the student’s Standard English should be honored and not made to seem inferior, it is important for students to learn to speak grammatically correct because it will aid them in their future with jobs, interviews, become an effective writer, etc. In the classroom, I believe ESL students need to hear prescriptive grammar because they first need to learn the basic structure of English that they will use in formal settings, will read in most print, and hear on some television shows. However, I also find it interesting the way a student then use the language with friends and family in informal settings. Students should be aware that in different situations, different usage of English is used. I am a firm believer that a teacher should become a facilitator of the student’s learning and the students construct their own meanings through activities or inductive reasoning. Therefore, I like the idea of using ht inductive approach to teaching grammar. Lessons may be more helpful if they allow the students to explore the grammar concept through an activity or exercise. The teacher may want to spend a lot of time exposing and engaging students to practice and exposure with the structure or grammar concept. Lastly, teachers may want to use guided practice so the students will feel comfortable enough to produce or verbally use the grammar concept.