Job Discussion Forums

superstevieg · Joined: 21 Dec 2008 Posts: 18

Hi,

Would anyone know of a decent grammar book or website that provides advice on teaching grammar to foreign students. Obviously there are plenty of grammar books out there, but most of them appear to be aimed at helping the reader understand grammar. Being a novice teacher, my concern is that even with a good grasp of grammar I may encounter some difficulty teaching students the rights and wrongs of grammar given its complexity, for example, past continuous tense, etc. So I was wondering if anyone could recommend a book or website that advises how teachers can explain grammar in very simplistic easy-to-understand terms and grammar-specific games that help drive the message across.

Many thanks for any advice given,
Steve

Mr_Monkey · Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Posts: 661 Location: Kyuuuuuushuuuuuuu

Practical English Usage.

Grammar for English Language Teachers.

Are you teaching in Japan? If so, are you sure that more grammar is what they need? In my experience, the learners there already have a lot of background knowledge in grammar - what they need is opportunity to practise it!

Additionally, the skill of explaining grammar is highly personal, and very amenable to personalisation - if you can find a relevant context where the particular grammatical function is/would be used by your learners, the thinking goes that there is a better chance of your learners internalising it.

Cole · Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 31

Hey Steve,

If possible, take a look at a copy of "Painless Grammar." It's written by Rebecca Elliott, Ph.D. It's written in simple down-to-earth language that won't make your eyelids heavy. It doesn't provide any advice for teaching, but I think the way she presents her material in her book can be adapted for the classroom. It's worth a peek, in my opinion.

purple_piano · Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:56 pm Post subject:

Both of Mr_Monkey's suggestions are awesome books but certainly on the heavy side (both physically and in content!)

Have a look at Murphy's "English Grammar in Use". It puts tricky grammar points into context and also gives you exercises to use in the classroom.

superstevieg · Joined: 21 Dec 2008 Posts: 18

Thanks for the suggestions,
I already have the 'Practical English Usage' book which is good from a view pointpoint of understanding grammar. Its quite a bulky book itself so I may just take that over to me to Japan. I'll check the other books in a local library as I'm a bit reluctant to purchase more books because it will add on weight in my luggage. Either that or I could see if its possible to purchase the books whilst out in Japan.
Thanks for your help,
Steve

Mr_Monkey · Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Posts: 661 Location: Kyuuuuuushuuuuuuu

Amazon.co.jp in English.

wintersweet · Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2009 6:10 am Post subject:

I really like this one: http://astore.amazon.com/sharedwing-20/detail/0521809738

Sorry for the self-plug; it's just that I already have it written up there. Short version: The Teacher's Grammar of English: A Course Book and Reference Guide, by Ron Cowan, fairly new from Cambridge. Included student error examples are based on REAL student errors and are from various language backgrounds, including Japanese. Has teaching suggestions.

NJD84 · Joined: 27 Feb 2009 Posts: 7

I second Murphies "English Grammar in Use" as well as "Advanced Grammar in Use" as well. What I use for most of my grammar lessons, but i'm not in Japan however.