Grammar
- is there any point in studying language?
You
can never satisfy some people! One group of students complains
to you that there 'isn't enough grammar', whilst another
is fed up because they don't do enough 'talking' and 'using
the language'! There just doesn't seem to be a concensus
on the issue.
It's
the same in ELT methodology too. Grammar seems to go in
and out of fashion, forming the main focus of a class period
at one time, and then being rejected or ignored before coming
back into prominence - and then perhaps fading away again.
Why
are opinions so divided about grammar? Surely it forms the
basic building block of language. Well no, not according
to some experts. They are more persuaded by the idea that
languages are made up not just of grammar and vocabulary,
but also of lexical chunks - groups or words that form into
phrases. Furthermore commentators always point out that
while you can make yourself understood if you only have
words (even if you don't know the grammar), you have no
chance if all you have is grammar!
Yet
even if grammar has gone in and out of fashion, it has never
gone away. Look at a coursebook from twenty years ago, and
then at a current textbook. Grammar will be a main feature
in both of them.
What's
the argument about, then? Why do some people go on teaching
grammar when others go on complaining about it?
Let's
start by looking at some of the arguments
for and against teaching grammar. Followed by some ways
we can teach grammar.
Jeremy
The
Grammar Development Pack
is now available for members to download. To get access
to these excellent resources for teachers, click
here for more information.
