ESL EFL Grammar Activities

Teaching Grammar

Capsule for Developing Language Competence

Classroom Activities Promoting Simple Useful Language Environment

Many National and Internation tests like TOEFL, IELTs and IIT Examinations have a section specially marked for grammar. Even in international companies like Google India teach their employees grammar. In school examinations grammar is very much a part of the regular program even at the Kintergarten level.

Many students believe that if they learn grammar they will be able to use language for communication.  Many teachers too believe that teaching  grammar would enable their students to speak and write well. Hence, a lot of time is spent in teaching and testing grammar in the language curriculum.  In spite of this special emphasis on grammar, teachers feel frustrated when their  students make the same mistakes, repeatedly. Some of these errors get  fossilized and many of the students, even after post graduation, are not able to use language accurately. Hence, it is necessary to bring about a change in the way grammar is taught. If the emphasis is on making the students listen to natural exposure and providing opportunities for interaction, they would not only internalise the grammar item better but also will  develop the competence to express their own ideas and feelings using  language, in general and that grammar item, in particular.  The following sections suggest preparing and using Classroom Activities Promoting Simple Useful Language Environment while teaching grammar.

Grammar Activities: Preparing the Capsule

Teachers will find that their task of teaching grammar is made easy and enjoyable if they can create Classroom Activities Promoting Simple Useful Language Environment where the language is naturally used both by the teacher and the students. The teacher acts as a facilitator and her attitude is an essential ingredient for creating the specific environment. In such an environment natural use of language becomes the main emphasis and teaching or learning of grammar is taken up indirectly. While using the language, students automatically internalise the necessary grammar item. The grammatical principles are brought out as by products. This makes the learning process of the students simpler,  easier and more meaningful. Greater emphasis is laid on the teacher’s ability to elicit the correct usage from the students while they are actively involved in meaningful activities.

This approach can be understood better by sampling the Capsule for The Present Perfect Tense.             

• The Present Perfect
• Grammar & Language Environment
• Grammar Activities for Prepositions