Tips for Teaching ESL Grammar

1. There is no doubt that a knowledge of grammar rules is essential for the mastery of a language, says Penny Ur in her book, "Grammar Practice Activities." A teacher relating lists of rules, forms and exceptions, however, is generally not sufficient for students to learn effectively. Instead, students need a range of activities that will give them extended practice and confidence in using new structures.

Present Grammar In Context

2. Context gives grammar a relationship with the real world and better enables students to understand, remember and use grammatical structures. You can give grammar lessons context by utilizing books, newspapers, personal experience, pictures and movies. Indeed, the real world is rich with materials that can give context to any grammatical point you are teaching. For example, you can use public signs to help teach the imperative by encouraging students to produce language such as "Keep dogs on leads" or "Buy tickets here."

Personalize Grammar Points

3. Make the language relevant to your students when teaching grammar. Asking a student to give you an example of a past simple sentence is unlikely to produce any interesting or meaningful language, perhaps no language at all. Asking a student what she did on the weekend or what the happiest day of her life was, however, will likely encourage her to produce relevant structures.

Give Task-Based Practice In New Structures

4. David Nunan notes in his book, "Task-Based Language Teaching," that it is important to encourage self-directed rather than teacher-directed learning. Students need practice in producing grammatical structures themselves, rather than just parroting a teacher or perpetually looking to her for answers. A picture of a busy street scene and five minutes to write down twenty things that are happening in the picture, for example, is a very effective way of giving students practice in using the present continuous.

Use Games Liberally

5. As Mario Rinvolucri explains in "Grammar Games," games are not just a Friday afternoon "reward." Rather, they are pivotal to the students' learning progress. Because games are motivating and fun, they don't "feel" like learning, but they encourage students to produce language because they want to participate in the game. For example, to teach the present perfect tense, ask one student to leave the room. The other students move themselves and the furniture around in the room. Invite the

student back into the room to explain what has happened. She should attempt to produce sentences such as, "Tony has changed seats," "Erica has moved the desk," "Sam has turned the radio on," and so on. The teacher can have the class call out the changes she didn't notice.

Give Appropriate Feedback At The Right Time

6. It can be very frustrating for a student if he is constantly being interrupted by a teacher correcting his grammar. On the other hand, students need to know if they are producing the language correctly or not. Try and strike a balance between too much and too little criticism. One way to do this is to wait until the end of an activity and then draw attention to any repeated mistakes you heard. You can use the class to self-correct sentences you write on the board.

Instructions
Assess your students before you teach any grammar. If they already know what a noun and verb is, then you don't need to waste class time teaching them and doing exercises where everyone is getting 100 percent. The important thing about nouns, for example, are rules such as each sentence needs a subject, capitalizing proper nouns making sure nouns and verbs agree. What are your objectives in grammar for your grade level, and where are your students in regards to these objectives? 1. 2 Plan mini-lessons to address your students' deficiencies with grammar. If your students can't remember to always capitalize the word "I" (such as a first grade class), then before writing workshop one day, gather the students around your chart paper and do a lesson on capitalizing the word "I." Students can practice this skill by writing a personal narrative where they use the word, I, and immediately, they incorporate the lesson into their everyday writing. Mini-lessons can be taught on any subject. Skills can be practiced in writing. It just takes a little planning on your part. 2. 3 Teach grammar points while you are also discussing books you are reading to the class or that students are reading themselves. Real authors can be amazing tools to use to teach about contractions, noun/verb agreement and all other grammar points you may need to teach. There are even picture books that focus on certain parts of speech or punctuation. Ask your local or school librarian to help you find these books if you want to share them with your class. Show students how real-live authors use grammar in their writing, so students will also use correct grammar and punctuation in their writing. Point out if a character has a weird speech pattern and discuss it. Discuss why that character might not

be using proper grammar. These discussions will be more meaningful than doing language exercises. 3. 4 Practice punctuation, proper grammar, and capitalization with spelling sentences. Teachers often assign students to write spelling sentences, using a spelling word correctly in each sentence. What have your minilessons been focusing on? Ask students to practice these skills with spelling sentences. These sentences are also a good assessment when you teach grammar. They will show you if students are applying the grammar rules they are learning, or if students need more instruction and practice.

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Tips & Warnings

Check your school's curriculum. You don't have to teach everything in the grammar book to each grade level. You just have to follow the curriculum and meet the needs of your students. Don't make grammar boring. If you approach it with dislike and boredom, so will your students. Incorporate grammar rules and lessons into other subjects to make it more interesting and fun!