How to integrate grammar? Lecture 8

In this lecture… The PPP model The TTT model My favorite grammar activity Ideas for integrating grammar Another grammar activity I like Presents 

Models for integrating grammar The PPP model In the beginning there was GRAMMAR… (it was the entire language lesson) explanation + exercises (there was accuracy but no fluency) A third element was added to increase fluency presentation practice presentation practice production

The PPP model – advantages It is present in most course books It makes sense to teachers and learners It is how other things are learned (cooking, driving, flying, etc.) Teacher controls the lesson’s content and pace (classroom life can be unpredictable and this helps)

The PPP model – disadvantages Language is not learned ‘one bit at a time’ Teachers cannot decide what their students will learn next in this case Language acquisition is not linear PPP assumes that accuracy precedes fluency Accuracy is usually acquired later, it is the fine-tuning of a system which is already up-and-running (Ss can express themselves successfully without being accurate)

The TTT model PPP goes from fluency to accuracy TTT is reverse: accuracy to fluency Learners try to express themselves with what they know, then they are given instructions how to do this better (e.g. explicit grammar instructions) and through trial, error and feedback they achieve accuracy. task teach

The TTT model How are things organized then? Can we plan what it is we have to teach? The syllabus is organized around the task The PPP syllabus: Past Simple Tense, countable and uncountable nouns; The TTT syllabus: telling a story, at the grocer’s, etc. Drawbacks of TTT: which tasks to include, how to organize them?

face2face Intermediate Student’s Book, Cambridge The solution is combining PPP and TTT face2face Intermediate Student’s Book, Cambridge

My favorite grammar activity Observe what it being done and comment on the activity after it is finished.

Task 1 Devise a TPR activity for teaching one of the following: Verbs that take objects; Prepositions of place; Possessive adjectives.

Task 2 What realia might you use to teach Some and any; Comparison of adjectives; Possessive adjectives.

Task 3 Where might you find authentic texts (materials) featuring the following grammar forms? Past simple Reported speech Imperatives Present simple with future reference

Another grammar activity I like Observe what it being done and comment on the activity after it is finished.

Presents  Happy holidays!