Dr. Latricia Trites Fulbright Yilan Project Academic Advisor 2008-2009 Beyond Grammar Drills: Integrating Grammar with Other Language Skills, Part 1 Dr. Latricia Trites Fulbright Yilan Project Academic Advisor 2008-2009

Importance of Grammar Grammar gives students the structure with which to communicate effectively in a language. How should we teach grammar? Inductively or deductively?

Celce-Murcia & Larsen-Freeman Model

Communicative Competence Grammatical Competence: sounds, words, rules Discourse Competence: cohesion/coherence Sociolinguistic Competence: social appropriateness Strategic Competence: when and how to use, what to do when language fails (Canale & Swain 1980)

Tips for Going Beyond the Drills Bring in AUTHENTIC texts that illustrate the grammatical point being used. Create REALISTIC situations that would create meaningful use of the grammatical point.

Describe the Picture

Compare the Pictures Picture 2 Picture 1

Common Lesson Suggestions Describe a picture – using adjectives, comparatives/superlatives, adverbs, action verbs Summarize a story in their own words – sequencing events, past tense Read horoscopes and then write their own – Future tense Create shopping lists – quantifiers Answering an email, invitation, etc. – verb tenses (conditionals) Interviews/Polls – comparatives/superlatives Time tables – present tense, past tense, future tense 20 Questions – Yes/No Questions and answers Proverbs – student research for a particular tense

Take a Chance Taking a page from the textbook, think of at least one way of extending the grammar exercise to make it meaningful to the students. Focus primarily on reading and writing activities. Share with the group.

Next Time Bring your own textbook, we’ll brainstorm for more ideas specifically focusing on listening and speaking activities.

References Canale, M., & Swain, M. (1980). Theoretical bases of communicative approaches to second language teaching and testing. Applied Linguistics, 1, 1-47. Celce-Murcia, M., & Larsen-Freeman, D. (1999). The grammar book: An ESL/EFL teacher’s course (2nd ed.). USA: Heinle & Heinle. Ur, P. (1988). Grammar practice activities: A practical guide for teachers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.