Second Language Learning and Language Teaching

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Discussion topics
1 Here are seven techniques for teaching grammar. Decide in the light of the var-
ious approaches in this chapter what the chief advantage or disadvantage may
be for each.
Discussion topics 43
Box 2.8 Grammar and language teaching
●
Teachers have to be aware of the many ways in which grammar comes into
language learning and use, and the many types of grammar that exist in
choosing which grammar to teach and how to teach it.
●
L2 learners go through distinct stages of acquisition, for reasons still only
partially understood. Teaching can utilize the known facts about these
stages in several ways.
●
Many aspects of grammar do not need to be taught as they are already
present in the learner’s mind and need instead to be activated.
●
Conscious explanation of the L2 grammar is seen as beneficial in some cir-
cumstances, as is raising of language awareness.
Grammar teaching technique
Advantage
Disadvantage
explanation
......
......
use of context/situation
......
......
fill-in-the-blank exercises
......
......
drilling
......
......
substitution tables
......
......
‘games’
......
......
consciousness-raising, etc.
......
......
2 Take any current coursebook you have to hand, and look at one or two gram-
mar-based exercises. What type of grammar does it employ? How successfully?
3 What aspects of grammar do you feel strongly about? For example, what things
do you feel people should not say? For example, ‘between you and I’? Why?
4 How important are grammatical morphemes to the student? How much atten-
tion do they receive in teaching? How much should they receive?