English Grammar (Teaching)

Today’s class

• Review (Descriptive vs prescriptive grammar)

• Form activities

• Homework assignment

• Homework

Website: edwardtesol.com (password: english)

Prescriptive grammar vs. Descriptive grammar

(think about the double negative in the statement)

Prescriptive grammar is prescribed by rules.

Descriptive grammar describes how people

really use language

Descriptive verb conjugation

“to be”

I … You … He … She … It … We … They …

http://www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/sounds/regional-voices/grammatical-variation/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uctPoDujEM4

http://weloveaccents.co.uk/category/black-country-brummie-accents/page/2/

The Black Country

Q: How is Korean language use changing in younger generations?

Descriptive grammar is also influenced by younger generations.

Teaching grammar to young learners. Example activity:

happy

sad

angry

Teaching grammar to young learners. Example activity:

Is he angry? No he isn’t.

He is _____.

Teaching grammar to young learners. Example activity:

Is she happy? No ___ isn’t.

She ___ ______.

Teaching grammar to young learners. Example activity:

Is the monkey sad? No it ____.

It ___ ______.

Can you guess my sentence?

Is the [animal] [feeling]?

Yes, it is. No, it isn’t.

Grid game

Grid game for higher level students

Sentence Mimes

This activity is good for practicing sentence order (grammar). Choose a simple sentence and create an action for each word. For example:

I [point to eye] like [make/point to heart] cats [make a paw]. What other animals can we put in this sentence with actions?

We [draw a circle] are [bend finger] reading books [act reading]. What other hobbies can we act with this sentence?

What does this mean? [draw a circle] [make/point to heart] [make a paw]

In your groups choose a sentence and make mimes to teach the class. Can we make any new sentences with our new actions?

Intermediate example activities

If it rains tomorrow,

If it is sunny tomorrow,

I will…

I will…

Example activities: Focus on Form

Finish these sentences:

• If she goes to the party, she will…

• If we practice a lot, we will…

• She will marry him if he…

• I will buy you a sandwich if you…

Example activities: Focus on Form

1. Take a paper slip and find your sentence partner (see PDF).

2. Complete the worksheet.

3. Do the survey with your partner (see PDF).

Grammar activity: Card Game with Present Perfect tense

1. Mix the cards face down.

2. Take it in turns turning over 2 cards.

3. If the two parts of the cards make a sentence, you can keep the two cards.

4. The player with the most cards at the end wins the game.

Homework 1: Watch on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dmSdO-6WEU

Homework 2:

Homework 2:

For Week 7 (after Chuseok), you need to prepare a grammar activity for a unit’s grammar point. The grammar activity can be created by you or from a website or textbook. The grammar activity can be in the form of a worksheet, survey, information gap, word cards, board game, guessing game, or any other format that you think is suitable for your target language. Take a look at the full Chapter 3 file from my website to get some ideas.

Here are some online resources where you may be able to find materials and ideas:

http://busyteacher.org/ https://en.islcollective.com/

Let’s share your activities!

Ideas for Practicing Grammar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CWB_hxeoyU

Introduction to final assignment

Teaching Grammar Creatively by Günter Gerngross, Herbert Puchta, Scott Thornbury

This is an activity resource book featuring a lot of great grammar lesson ideas.

Using a unit from this book, you will prepare and present a grammar lesson (PPT).

Each of you will have a different unit. Each unit is a different grammar point and has several lessons. You can follow the lesson, combine parts of different lessons, or adapt/supplement with your own ideas.

We will discuss this more in the next few weeks.

Week 8 Homework Task:

Read the introduction for “Teaching Grammar Creatively” available on my website. Then, find and complete the sentences below (fill in the blanks) from the text. The first has been done for you.

Example:

p.5

Many adult learners have a very strong need to

understand…_the rules by which grammatical structures are formed._

Young learners (and some adults too) seem to be… _____________________________________________