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SH_Panda
Joined: 31 May 2011
Posts: 455
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 Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 11:13 am Post subject: |
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| Sashadroogie wrote: |
| Totally agree with Denim-Maniac. |
I agree to a certain extent.
We definitely should teach grammar, but I don't believe we should get into it too deeply and we certainly shouldn't be teaching the names of grammar points( e.g. - personal pronouns, gerunds etc.)
It should be a part of the lesson, but at the end of the day we are here because we are native speakers of the language. We show the students how English should be spoken and in my opinion too much focus on grammar bores the hell out of students (particularly if you teach kids) and doesn't improve their fluency much. |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 2:21 pm Post subject: |
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Teaching learners metalanguage like 'pronoun' isn't really going into it too deeply. Not at all. I also think it is useful - promotes some degree of autonomy. Learners can refer to English language grammar resources on their own, if prepared so by their teacher.
As for kiddies, of course the approach is very different, but they should be taught structures and vocabulary, as any other learner profile. |
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Denim-Maniac
Joined: 31 Jan 2012
Posts: 1238
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| Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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| SH_Panda wrote: |
| too much focus on grammar bores the hell out of students (particularly if you teach kids) and doesn't improve their fluency much. |
1 - Imagine groups of 4 students sitting together discussing what they would do if they were teaching the class; what they would do if they ruled China and could make new laws; what they would do if they woke up and discovered they had lost their hearing; what they would do if they won the lottery.
2 - A photo slideshow featuring Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, David Beckham, Zhang ZiYi, Jacky Chan, Hu JinTao, Obama, Edison Chen, Usain Bolt, Anjelina Jolie, Lady GaGa. Students in small groups negotiating and agreeing who is the most successful, the most creative, the least respectable, the richest, the ugliest, the most influential etc.
3 - A dictation race with students running across the room in two teams to try and accurately copy the lyrics of the Foreigner song 'A girl like you'.
4 - Role plays with a selection of fast food menu's with waiters and customers deciding which food is more delicious than their hometowns and if Sichuan food really is spicier than Indian food.
I dont think any of those activities sound boring. And luckily my Chinese students dont either. I am not advocating chalk and talk grammar lectures ... but normal run-of-the-mill lessons. Hardly rocket science.
1 - Is the main activity in a second conditional grammar lesson.
2 - is focusing on superlatives as the target language.
3 - is a fun activity as part of a present perfect progressive lesson.
4 - is a comparative lesson. |
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