Seven suggestions of ways to help students enjoy grammar. Show Introduction Students’ reactions to grammar-focused lessons seem to be typically one of three kinds. Some students find grammar very appealing, some find it intrinsically boring, and some find it useful but really hard work. There might be a number of reasons for these reactions. For example, some students’ brain chemistry might be more (or less) pre-programmed for learning grammar. If this is the case, the teacher has limited power to promote the enjoyment of grammar. But it’s also possible that students have had a negative learning experience with grammar – they might be used to listening to long lectures about grammar (yes, even today) and doing long, esoteric exercises on one particular area of target language. In order to make grammar more interesting for students, I’d recommend a more inductive approach, i.e. students should be allowed to work out the meaning and the rules of the grammar for themselves. I also think that the teachers’ ‘metalanguage’ (i.e. the language used to talk about the target language) should be kept to an absolute minimum. Furthermore, it’s crucial to get learners to use the target language in an authentic way about their own lives. And, in addition to such communicative work, I think that students can be encouraged to do some analytical work, particularly where communicative outcomes are affected. Let’s now study, in more detail, what I mean by the above. Below are the seven ways, together with sample teacher language for each part of the lesson. The seven ways1. Provide a context Sample teacher language: I don’t earn very much money in my job. At the moment I’m renting a flat. I’d really like to buy a flat, but I don’t have enough money to do that. I know that I’m not going to buy my own flat, but I like to dream about it anyway…so, what could I say about buying a flat, anyone? 2. Help students to say the target language Sample teacher language: So can you all repeat this after me, please? ‘Have you had your hair cut?’…Good…Now say it as many times to yourself as you like…and then tell me when you’re happy…OK? Now, Tania, let me hear you say it, please. 3. Provide a written record Sample teacher language: Ok, now, I’d like you to copy this down in your special ‘grammar’ sections of your notebooks…(the teacher then writes ‘The article was published last year = A journal published the article, but we don’t know, or don’t care, which journal it was.’) 4. Personalize the target language Sample teacher language: So it’s nearly the end of December now. It’s nearly the New Year. Does anyone here want to make changes to their life next year?…yes, Yuko?…What are you going to do next year? 5. Help students to guess the grammar rules of the target language Sample teacher language: OK, so we’ve practised ‘I’d like…’, and we know it means ‘I want’…but can anyone ask me a question with ‘would like’?…can anyone ask me if I’d like a cup of coffee?…No? Well, how do we ask a question with ‘will’?…Good!…’Would’ works in the same way… 6. Help students to understand the communicative importance of grammar Sample teacher language: Carlos, please take these chocolates…Ok, now go to Lucia and Mohamed…now give him a chocolate…no, give him a chocolate…Good!…Now go to Anna and Markus, and give her a chocolate…Good!…And now go to Patrizia and Yuko, and give them the last chocolate…well done, Carlos!…And now here's a chocolate for you, Carlos! 7. Help students to understand the importance of grammatical accuracy Sample teacher language: …so you know that, sometimes, it’s important to write very accurately (for example, like you said, if you’re applying for a job here in Britain)…I want you now to look at this text…You can understand what the writer means, but there are some mistakes which will leave a bad impression on the reader…see if you can find the mistakes. Conclusion Paul Bress can be contacted at . His website is at www.bemycoach.co.uk What can teachers do to help their students build vocabulary?meaning of words:. Introduce them to a wide range of words in interesting. ... . Make sure they encounter a new word many times.. Make sure they encounter a new word in many. ... . Provide explicit vocabulary instruction related. ... . Discuss word meanings with them.. Teach them how to recognize the important words.. How can you motivate your students to learn vocabulary and grammar?The seven ways. Provide a context. ... . Help students to say the target language. ... . Provide a written record. ... . Personalize the target language. ... . Help students to guess the grammar rules of the target language. ... . Help students to understand the communicative importance of grammar.. How can a teacher enrich the students vocabulary?Reading for meaning
Reading is one of the most effective ways to teach vocabulary and regular reading is the strategy that gives students the opportunity to practice and master the phases of critical reading that lead to reading success and improved word usage.
What strategies are most effective for teaching students new vocabulary?Implementing semantic map activities in your classroom will help students, especially struggling students and students with learning disabilities, recall the meanings of words and understand how multiple words or concepts “fit together.” Teachers will find that using a semantic map, combined with explicit instruction ...
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