Job Discussion Forums

muji · Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 23

I'm English, I'm literate and reasonably articulate, but I'm really lacking in knowledge of grammatical terms and meanings. Obviously I know what verbs, nouns and adjectives are, but things like the past participle, pronouns, adverbs etc I've got no idea.

So... are you expected to teach this level of English in Eikaiwas? Or is it more conversation based? Should I be reading and learning about all this before I come out to Japan? Is it necessary?

JonnyB61 · Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 216 Location: Japan

Muji, my son, how are you mate?
Remember what we agreed? Be cool, right? I know you will be.

It's no wonder you feel a touch shaky on the old grammar front. They don't teach it to us in school, probably because the teachers don't know it either. Fret not, you don't need all the grammar gabble to succeed in an eikawa. You'll be spending most of your time engaged in what is termed edutainment. That is to say, playing games in English with youngsters. Even with older students you should still focus on fluency rather than accuracy, so again at your stage, you don't need to worry too much about grammar.

In time you will learn the grammar of English standing on your feet teaching. It will become more important as you make progress as a teacher but even then you are expected to understand it and not preach it. That is to say, never let grammar become the sole principal in your teaching. All these things will be made clear to you when you do your CELTA course.

I'm not going to explain the terms you mention that you're unclear about. Stick them into Google if you like and I'm sure you'll find the answers. But, be aware, that's only the beginning. There's another universe of English grammar beyond that which you mention. I think you'll enjoy discovering it.

Take care, and keep your nudger clean!

JB

Odango · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 36

I'm taking the CELTA course right now and by heck do you NEED to know your grammar inside and out. Shocked

As Jonny has said for your bog standard Eikaiwa you won't be needing to know, or I should say you won't be tested so much on your knowledge of grammar. I know when I worked at one last I was hardly ever quizzed as to why and when we use the Articles or why do we use the present continuous to talk about not just only present situations, but the future too.

The thing is though, once you get a grip of how grammar works from an analytical point of view you'll be able to teach much better and understand what you are teaching and why (or so we're taught on the CELTA course).

Razz

muji · Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 23

Thanks for the info guys

And JB, fret not, my nudger is sparkly clean right now.

JonnyB61 · Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 216 Location: Japan

Gypsy Rose Kim · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 151

This is a joke, right? You don't know what a pronoun is? Nor an adverb? But you want someone to pay you to teach English? Uh...

Do you always aspire to the absolute bare minimum prerequisites? Or just in this particular case?

Get a grammar book. Get several, in fact. Study them. If you do so for more than three minutes, you'll know what an effing pronoun is.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Eikaiwa work may be mostly edutainment, but you may find yourself teaching some grammar, too. Depends on the school and students.

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 1:53 pm Post subject:

Muji,

I definitely recommend brushing up on your grammar and knowledge of the terms used. If you are joining any of the big four or thinking of going on JET you may be asked to take a grammar test in which you will be asked to label certain words as adverbs, participles, pronouns etc...

Also, if you are going to be working with other teachers it is often useful to be have a knowledge of certain terms. Instead of having to go into long drawn out explanations of what a student needs work on ("Well, like you know how we're supposed to say 'you are' and 'I am' the student keeps on going 'You is' or 'I is'") you can simply say something like "Needs work on subject verb agreement.

You may also find things a little embarrassing if a student asks, "Which verbs take to infinitives and which take to gerunds?" and you have no idea how to answer the question.

Also, as another poster has said, if you take your job seriously then you'll simply want to be have a good knowledge of grammar.

muji · Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 23

OK thanks for the info guys. Furiousmilk, you've got me wondering - what the hell is a stone mouth?!?

And Gypsy - no it's not a joke - they don't teach this stuff in schools in the UK anymore. And that being the case, is it unreasonable to assume that it might not be necessary to know it when teaching abroad?

I don't suppose there are any particular grammar/teaching books that you know of that stand out far and above the others?

Odango · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 36

Have a look at Michael Swan's Practical English Usage.

I can't think of a book that has helped me more.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Swan's book is an indispensible reference, but it won't teach someone like muji. He/She almost has to study what his/her students would have to!

Look up something like these (in addition to buying Swan):

Fundamentals of English Grammar (Betty Azar, Prentice Hall)
Basic Grammar in Use (Raymond Murphy, Cambridge Univ. Press)
Grammar Sense, Levels 1-3 (Cheryl Pavlik, Oxford Univ. Press)