what do you want to teach grammar or...

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TEACH

– GRAMMAR OR ENGLISH?

Seven bad reasons for teaching grammar

• Because it’s there.

• Because it’s tidy.

• Because I can test it.

• Because it makes people feel secure.

• Because it formed my character.

• Because you have to teach the whole system.

• Because it gives me power.

How much do these mistakes matter? Give each one a mark from 1 (doesn’t matter at all) to 5 (the end of civilisation as we know it). 1.Pete has been here again last week. 2.I love the nature. 3.I have pains in both foots. 4.By next August I’ll be working here for 15 years. 5.He talk too much. 6.John didn’t told about the meeting. 7.‘How long are you here for?’ ‘Since March.’ 8.May I have your sign, sir? 9.Please tell me the way to the station.

TWO GOOD REASONS Comprehensibility Acceptability

TWO MORE CONSIDERATIONS Frequency Teachability/Learnability

Pete has been here again last week.

I love the nature.

I have pains in both foots.

By next August I’ll be working here for 15 years.

He talk too much.

John didn’t told about the meeting.

‘How long are you here for?’ ‘Since March.’

May I have your sign, sir?

Please tell me the way to the station.

Explanations

Examples Exercises

INPUT Explanations Examples

OUTPUT Exercises

The present perfect is used: 1. ………………

2. ………………

3. ………………

4. ………………

5. ………………

6. ………………

7. ………………

8. ………………

9. ………………

10.………………

11.………………

………………

………………

248 ………………

“Modality is the coloured filter of our

subjectivity, through which we perceive reality.”

GRAMMAR

DOESN’T

HAVE

TO BE

GREY

Seven pieces of advice for teachers

• Ask: what difference has this lesson made to my students’ English?

• You can’t do it all. Are you choosing wisely?

• Don’t sell other things to buy grammar.

• Create confidence by doing more with less.

• Perfectionism is destructive: good enough is good enough.

• If you want to see what they’re learning, look at what they’re doing.

• Grammar doesn’t have to be grey.

Thank you for listening. On my website: ‘Teaching grammar – does grammar teaching work?’ ‘Seven bad reasons for teaching grammar – and two good reasons for teaching some.’

www.mikeswan.co.uk swanmic@gmail.com