Department of continuous professional education graduation paper

1.3 The Deductive Approach in Teaching Grammar
Deductive teaching is a traditional approach in which information about target language and rules are driven at the beginning of the class and continued with examples. The principles of this approach are generally used in the classes where the main target is to teach grammar structures. For instance, these principles are convenient for the classes that grammar translation method is applied. According to Thornbury’s three basic principles a deductive lesson starts with presentation of the rules by the teacher. Secondly teacher gives examples by highlighting the grammar structures. Then students make practice with the rules and produce their own examples at the end of the lesson.⁹
The Deductive Approach is a common teaching style that emphasizes the clear presentation of grammar rules. This approach is designed to ensure that students are given a thorough working knowledge of a particular grammar rule and its function within both written and spoken contexts. Ideally, students should not be left with any sense of uncertainty about what they have been taught.
The acquisition of grammar is extremely important in any language. Even if a teacher wanted to focus on accuracy in speech or writing, some understanding of grammar is required. Grammar forms the building blocks that, when combined with vocabulary, allow language to gain a semblance of meaning.
As a teacher-centered teaching style, the deductive approach is designed to ensure that learning grammar is efficient. With the deductive approach, there should be little concern that a student has not been taught the knowledge they require. Thorough teaching of grammar would ensure that all the basics are covered. Explaining the rules gives students a fundamental understanding of what grammar is, and how and when to use it. Drills are often incorporated into this approach to provide rigorous practice for students.
This can be especially important for more difficult grammar, such as the Perfect form. This grammatical feature can prove difficult for students whose language does not use this tense in the same way as English. Students should not be expected to acquire a deep understanding from intuition alone.
The inductive approach allows students to learn grammar through engagement with the language. They are not explicitly taught what the rules are; they are guided to discover the rules.
That said, it is my experience that many students prefer being taught grammar. It feels more tangible and more direct. They feel they can ask questions immediately when something does not make sense to them. With the inductive approach, students need to invest more time in the learning process. This can increase as the grammar becomes more difficult.