Job Discussion Forums

[Vash]

Hi guys!

Well, I note with joy that my suitcase has room for one more book. I don't know the level of my students, only that I'll be teaching/entertaining adults in a company environment.

If anyone could recommend THE book on grammar, it would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!
Vash

[Wolf]

A book on grammar? Must it be grammar?

If it must, I found the Fundimentals of English Grammar series to be okay. My students loved them (being a bit less communicative), and they seemed to work well enough. There are three though. A red one, a black one and a blue one.

Forgive the mega cheesy link, but it was the fastest way I could think of to find information on the book.

Edit: I'm not trying to pull a fast one on Gordon, but he reminded me to mention that I did use this book while teaching in Japan, for what it's worth.

[denise]

Are you looking for a textbook for your students or a resource for yourself?

"The Grammar Book" by Celce-Murcia & Larsen Freeman is a good resource, and it's got several teaching suggestions. It's quite heavy, though, and will take up a good deal of space in your luggage. (And pricey, too!)

d

[Glenski]

The "Bible" of grammar references is Practical English Usage, by Michael Swan. Heavy and somewhat pricey (US$37), but excellent.

[Gordon]

I'll go out on a limb and say that your students will be low level. I brought lots of books with me and found that most of them were useless. Maybe yours will be higher than mine, but generally, the level of English in Japan is frighteningly low.

Practical English Usage is a great reference book, but may put you over the weight limit on your luggage.

[Vash]

Thanks everyone,

Swan, yes...that's the author I was trying to remember.

In my first stint in Japan, I don't really remember needing to do much more than dumb down the lessons in the "Interchange" series and such, but students have been known to convey ("ask" would be pushing it) the most unnerving of questions.

My favorite technique, incidentally, is to start drawing mind maps. Remarkably effective at cutting down on irrelevant questions and the resulting tangents that lead one to lesson suckitude.

Serves as a excellent deterrent, as well.

Sigh...Japan sure is lucky to have me.

Cheers!
Vash

[Gordon]

Vash,

[J-Pop]

Well since this topic is on books about Grammar, I wanted to suggest one that is not as well known as the other two that have already been discussed. Yet, it is truly unique & very well done,
Understanding English Grammar, by Martha Kolln.

What makes this book unique, IMHO, is that--rather than only focus on the what--that is, the exact precise rule of grammar--this book aims to help you understand the why: the system of rules behind the grammar of the English language.

There are (in the book) a lot of nouns, pronouns, predicates--& all the typical grammar suspects. But, the real intended aim is to break down, to dissect (in an understandable way for the average reader) the systematic nature underlying the rules of grammar. It sounds like it might be a "philosophical" type of book--when first hearing about it--but actually it is quite practical. There is an accompanying workbook that goes with it. Very useful.

However, having said that, I think for most purposes (especially in most Japanese settings, or when teaching less than advanced students) the two books mentioned previously:
--"Practical English Usage," and
--"The Grammar Book,"
will (either/or) be more than sufficient.

But, one of the reasons I wanted to mention "Understanding English Grammar" is because--in the English Class I took where we used that book--there was a student from Taiwan. She loved the book & had never heard anyone discuss the underlying system behind the rules. She knew (like a champ) nearly ALL the rules but she had never thought about how there are priniciples that, when you understand them, help you understand why that rule exists in the first place.

There are two major parts to the book: 1. Grammar, and
2. Syntax (based on the principles developed in the grammar section). The syntax section, I think, is the best but I liked the first section too. She (Martha Kolln) provides a way of thinking, a tool, that will easily apply to almost ANY sentence (long, short, weird, whatever). This approach allows you to classify any sentence into one (of 10) possible patterns. These patterns, when understood, can help you analyze & explain to others, maybe 95-99% of all sentences formed in the English languge. Her ideas are truly awesome AND understandable! She's a good writer too, not a lot of jargon--surprisingly.

So this is a book, IMO, for 3 possible groups:
1. Advanced students (NS or NNS) who actually LIKE grammar. They would love this book.
2. Teachers who would like to understand the "why" behind the "what."
3. Teachers or students of Writing Classes. The insights in this book, can with some effort & practice (the workbook is quite useful), truly improve one's ability to write clearly & effectively.

For what it's worth.

[Dr.J]

If I were you I would wait until you know your students better and then buy a grammar book to fit them. There are several bookshops that sell EFL books; look out for one called Kinokuniya. I reccommend Swan as a problem-fixer, but it's not a structured grammar course.

But to be honest, I bet your students will hate doing grammar and can probably learn better when it's hidden in other activities.

[Vash]

Thanks J-Pop, I'll try to find Understanding English Grammar before I leave. It sounds excellent, if for no other reason than my own peace of mind.

Remind me, as well, to bring my spellchecker.



Cheers!
Vash

(PS I'm with you Dr.J, 'pure' grammar lessons were very rare in my first stint. Nonetheless, I'm preparing for the worst...)

[ghostrider]

--"Practical English Usage," and
--"The Grammar Book,"

Can those books be found reasonably priced in Japan or should I order one before leaving?

[Ai]

[Chris21]

"The Grammar Book" has been mentioned twice already... it is outstanding!

[PAULH]

[Brooks]

I bought the Grammar Book in Japan. It cost between 6,000-7,000 yen at Kinokuniya.