Grammar teaching has been a recurring theme, and learning structure traditionally, solely through grammar rules -which are within teachers’ comfort zone- has raised concerns about its effectiveness.
Although explanation of rules and examples are important for better understanding, more emphasis is, nowadays, given on communicative practice among teachers who want, if not to abandon the traditional way of teaching, at least to blend it with a more effective, interactive and enjoyable method of teaching grammar.
Learning grammar traditionally through rules has proved to be ineffective but if used in moderation with emphasis placed on both meaning and structure there is nothing wrong with this. Besides, teachers should not be negative in using the mother tongue where necessary to teach complex grammatical phenomena as it helps students recognize grammar structure and syntax. What, however, brings real acquisition, is practice and communication.
Meaning can be achieved when grammar is not adequately used. Grammar has always been considered valuable and indispensable in classroom in order to serve the needs of exams and certificates. Although grammar books have been an integral part of grammar teaching, there are other resources which can be used as a supplement to the books’ function. Vocabulary and grammar are interrelated tools needed for communication and without them nothing can be effectively conveyed. Vocabulary may be considered to be more important than grammar but grammar can be equally important and easy to assimilate through visuals, games, graphs, charts, maps, quizzes, realia and so on. Authentic material like videos, songs or art can enhance learning and memory in a spontaneous, relaxing way by establishing an environment where students feel more confident and less stressful and daunted.
For learners, especially older ones, studying English can feel like trying to work in a place with a lot of distractions as there are so many apps, U tube videos, podcasts etc. Apps organized into folders by colour and being neat so that it is easy to see an overview of everything could really work like clothes being organized in wardrobes or drawers! Organisation in grammar courses in a simple, clear, step-by-step way through a variety of strategies which can apply to each student’s needs can really reward the learners.
There are thoughts and assumptions on the most effective ways and methods to teach grammar to students and it requires time, patience and dedication to familiarize students with unfamiliar language patterns and engage them in grammar learning through activities which will improve both their receptive and productive skills.
Try, for example, to teach learners to use tricky tenses through gamification, drama, song lyrics, projects kinesthetic and role plays which will really do the job. Craftwork is one good example to practise tenses with students as students can see the use and meaning of tenses in action by making their own creations and use them to show tenses and forms through play. They can, for instance, make puppets from paper or other material which can stand for am, is, are or ing form in Present Continuous tense and demonstrate them while playing with them.
Another way to implement grammar and vocabulary in such a way as to inspire and motivate students to acquire language is through Storytelling. Many teachers, nowadays, prefer using more stimulating methods of delivering their lessons as opposed to traditional lecture methods and Storytelling is one of them. While focusing on the plot, students acquire grammar as well as vocabulary subconsciously and associations of grammar items are created and reinforced in their minds accelerating grammatical clarification and acquisition and speeding up the learning process. Grammar is presented through examples, context and situations and syntax is easily embedded through storylines. The learners’ imagination is enhanced and they learn about culture using the target language of the story during reading, activities, role play, rehearsing and so on. At the same time, through the magic of reading, students get into another world seeing the meaning and message of stories rather than just dry rules and they become familiar with structures. Most importantly, they learn to interact and communicate together and learn in an enjoyable and relaxing way.
Trying not to learn by heart loads of rules but observe and focus on certain items that spot the tenses, students can focus on the identity of tenses through visual contact and RRR method like Repetition, Revisions, Recycling and other techniques like rhyming, opposite –synonym, mind maps of practice with prefix-suffix etc. which will help them photograph structure on their mind.
A variety of activities can keep students’ interest and when students at an early level are introduced to vocabulary and communication skills, they have achieved a sense of acquisition and are more receptive to understand the grammatical rules.
Grammar learning can become more appealing when you take advantage of the students’ mistakes by urging them to use both self and peer correction. They focus on certain mistakes and this increases their awareness and helps them speed up assimilation and consolidation.
Besides, when students are not bombarded with too many exercises and tests or occupied by the fear of getting low marks, grammar can be seen as fun and creative in class and this balance will certainly help them achieve their goals.
Grammar rules can be a lot like wearing a heavy coat, they seem hard to use but when you learn and practise grammar, it becomes easier and it’s like the feeling of not needing a coat in spring!
