How to Teach English Grammar: Your Approach (Part 1)

Chris from The Language House
17 Oct 202112:55
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRChris Westergard from the Language House addresses the common fears associated with teaching grammar to English language learners. He outlines a three-part video series aimed at demystifying the process. The first video focuses on the right mindset and preparation for a grammar lesson, emphasizing real-life usage over rote memorization of rules. Westergard stresses the importance of understanding grammar points deeply and planning lessons around practical communication goals. He also highlights the need to select key functions of a grammar point for focused teaching and to design engaging, authentic activities that culminate in students applying the grammar in meaningful ways. The series promises practical strategies and a demo lesson to equip both new and experienced teachers with effective grammar teaching techniques.

Takeaways
  • 📚 The script is a series of three videos by Chris Westergard from the Language House, focusing on teaching grammar effectively.
  • 👨‍🏫 The first video discusses the overall approach to teaching a grammar lesson and emphasizes preparation before presenting a grammar point.
  • 🎯 The second video will provide a detailed rundown on how to present grammar, including eliciting it and using materials, with a focus on the presentation phase.
  • 🏫 The third video will be a demo lesson, showing how grammar fits into an ESA (Engage, Study, Activate) or PPP (Present, Practice, Produce) structure for success.
  • 🚫 The traditional lecture-style teaching of grammar is discouraged; instead, the focus should be on grammar as a tool for effective communication.
  • 🤔 The purpose of teaching grammar is questioned, with the conclusion that it should be taught for real-life usage, not just for knowing the rules.
  • 📝 Teachers are advised to have a deep understanding of the grammar point, including its structures and usage, before teaching it to students.
  • 🎯 It's recommended to focus on one or two functions of a grammar point to avoid overwhelming students and to maintain clarity in teaching.
  • 🔚 Planning should start from the end, with the activation or production stage in mind, to ensure that the lesson's goal is real-life usage of the grammar.
  • 🔄 The importance of considering the level of the students and adjusting the lesson's complexity accordingly is highlighted.
  • 🎨 The use of visuals, boardwork, or color schemes in the presentation of grammar is suggested to enhance understanding and engagement.
  • 🚫 The grammar point should never be the main topic of the lesson; instead, it should support communication about a more engaging topic.
Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the video series presented by Chris Westergard from The Language House?

    -The main topic of the video series is teaching grammar effectively, addressing the common fears and challenges faced by new English teachers.

  • How many videos does Chris Westergard plan to release on the topic of teaching grammar?

    -Chris Westergard plans to release three videos covering different aspects of teaching grammar.

  • What is the primary focus of the first video in the series?

    -The first video focuses on the overall approach to teaching a grammar lesson, including preparation and mindset.

  • What will be covered in the second video of the series?

    -The second video will provide a complete rundown of how to present grammar, including eliciting it, the type of materials to use, and the goals for this part of the lesson.

  • What can viewers expect from the third video in the series?

    -The third video will be a demo lesson, showing how to create and conduct a grammar lesson from start to finish, incorporating ESA or PPP structures.

  • Why does Chris Westergard suggest that teaching grammar should be about usage rather than just rules and functions?

    -Chris suggests that grammar should be taught for usage because in real life, students need grammar as a tool to effectively communicate with one another, not just to know the rules.

  • What is the first fundamental step Chris recommends before teaching an effective grammar lesson?

    -The first fundamental step is to know the grammar point inside out, being comfortable with its structures, usage, and being able to give examples in both question and negative forms.

  • According to Chris, what should a teacher do after understanding the grammar point?

    -After understanding the grammar point, a teacher should pull out one or two functions of the grammar and focus on teaching only those functions to ensure practical usage in the lesson.

  • What is the term used for the stage in ESA or P stage in PPP where students use the language in an authentic situation?

    -The term used for this stage is 'activation' in ESA or 'production' in PPP.

  • Why is it important for teachers to think about the activation stage before planning the rest of the grammar lesson?

    -It is important because the activation stage represents the end goal of the lesson, where students use the grammar point in a real-life scenario, emphasizing practical usage over mere knowledge of rules.

  • What should a teacher consider when planning the materials for the presentation part of the grammar lesson?

    -Teachers should consider using visuals, boardwork, or a color scheme to make the presentation engaging and effective.

  • Why does Chris emphasize that the grammar point should not be the main topic of the lesson?

    -Chris emphasizes this because grammar itself is not interesting to talk about; the focus should be on using grammar to communicate about a specific topic or situation, making the lesson more engaging.

Outlines
00:00
📚 Introduction to Grammar Teaching Series

Chris Westergard from the Language House introduces a series of three videos aimed at demystifying grammar teaching for new English teachers. He acknowledges the common fear associated with teaching grammar and emphasizes the importance of having the right mindset and understanding to deliver successful grammar lessons. The first video discusses the overall approach to teaching grammar, the second will cover the presentation of grammar, and the third will provide a demo lesson. Chris also promotes the Language House's TEFL certification course in Prague.

05:00
🤔 Rethinking the Purpose of Teaching Grammar

Chris challenges the traditional lecture-style approach to teaching grammar, suggesting that it is not the most effective way to help students. He argues that grammar should be taught as a tool for effective communication rather than as a set of rules to memorize. The focus should be on real-life usage, enabling students to make decisions about language based on context. Chris emphasizes that understanding why and when to use grammar is crucial for planning a successful lesson.

10:01
🛠 Preparing for an Effective Grammar Lesson

Chris outlines the steps necessary to prepare for an effective grammar lesson. First, teachers must have a thorough understanding of the grammar point they are teaching. They should know its structures, forms, and usage. Next, teachers should focus on one or two key functions of the grammar point rather than trying to cover everything. Planning should start from the end, with the activation or production stage in mind, ensuring that the lesson culminates in students using the grammar in a realistic context. The lesson should be tailored to the students' level, considering whether they have encountered the grammar point before and adjusting the complexity and goals accordingly.

🎨 Structuring the Grammar Lesson

Chris explains the importance of not making grammar the main topic of the lesson. Instead, grammar should facilitate communication about a specific topic or situation. He suggests thinking about the materials and visuals to be used in the presentation, which will be covered in the second video. The lesson should be structured around a topic that engages students and leads to the activation where students apply the grammar in a real-life scenario. Chris recaps the ESA (Engage, Study, Activate) model used at the Language House, which aligns with the PPP (Present, Practice, Produce) model, emphasizing the importance of the activation stage as the ultimate goal of the lesson.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Grammar
Grammar refers to the set of structural rules governing the composition of sentences, phrases, and words in a language. In the video, it is the core subject being taught, with a focus on its practical application in communication rather than mere memorization of rules. The script emphasizes that teaching grammar should lead to effective usage in real-life situations.
💡English Teachers
This term refers to educators who specialize in teaching the English language to learners. The video addresses the common fears and challenges faced by new English teachers, particularly when it comes to teaching grammar. It provides guidance on how to approach grammar lessons effectively.
💡Mindset
Mindset, in the context of the video, refers to the mental attitude or perspective that teachers have towards teaching grammar. The script suggests that having the right mindset is crucial for a successful grammar lesson, which involves focusing on practical usage rather than theoretical knowledge.
💡Presentation
Presentation is the method or process of introducing and explaining the grammar point to students. The video outlines a structured approach to presenting grammar, including eliciting the grammar from students, using appropriate materials, and managing the time and goals of the lesson effectively.
💡ESA Model
The ESA (Engage, Study, Activate) model is a teaching framework used to structure language lessons. The video uses this model to guide teachers through the process of teaching grammar, starting with engaging students with a topic, studying the grammar point, and activating the learning through practical use.
💡PPP Model
PPP (Present, Practice, Produce) is another teaching framework similar to ESA, focusing on presenting new information, practicing it in a controlled setting, and producing it in a freer, more realistic context. The video mentions this model as an alternative to ESA for structuring grammar lessons.
💡Usage
Usage in the video refers to the practical application of grammar in communication. It is the ultimate goal of teaching grammar, as emphasized throughout the script. Teachers are encouraged to focus on how grammar can be used in real-life scenarios rather than just teaching the rules.
💡Functions
Functions are the specific purposes or roles that grammar serves in communication. The video advises teachers to identify one or two functions of a grammar point to focus on, ensuring that the lesson is practical and not overwhelmed with too much information.
💡Activation
Activation, also referred to as the 'P' stage in PPP or the 'Activate' stage in ESA, is the phase of the lesson where students apply the grammar point in an authentic, real-life context. The video stresses the importance of planning this stage to ensure students can effectively use the grammar they've learned.
💡Teaching Point
A teaching point is a specific aspect or concept within a broader subject that is the focus of a lesson. In the context of the video, the teaching point is the particular grammar concept that the teacher aims to impart to the students, with an emphasis on understanding and applying it effectively.
💡Level
Level, in the context of language teaching, refers to the proficiency level of the students, such as A1, A2, B1, B2, etc. The video discusses the importance of considering the students' level when planning a grammar lesson to ensure it is neither too easy nor too difficult for them.
Highlights

Chris Westergard introduces a series of three videos on teaching grammar to English teachers.

Grammar teaching can be intimidating for new English teachers due to a lack of proper mindset and understanding.

The first video focuses on the overall approach to teaching a grammar lesson and preparation strategies.

The second video will provide a detailed rundown on presenting grammar, including elicitation techniques and materials.

The third video will be a demo lesson, showcasing how grammar fits into ESA or PPP structures for successful teaching.

Teaching grammar should be about usage in real-life situations rather than just memorizing rules.

The importance of understanding why grammar is taught and its application in communication.

Teachers must have a deep understanding of the grammar point they are teaching, including its structures and usage.

Selecting one or two functions of the grammar point to focus on, rather than trying to teach everything.

Planning the activation or production stage of the lesson first to ensure the lesson's goal is on practical usage.

Considering the level of the students and adjusting the lesson complexity accordingly.

Using visuals, boardwork, and color schemes to aid in the presentation of grammar.

The grammar point should not be the main topic of the lesson; it should serve to enhance communication on a specific topic.

Grammar should facilitate better communication in real-life scenarios, not just academic understanding.

The ESA model (Engage, Study, Activate) is used for structuring lessons at the Language House.

Each stage of the ESA model is crucial for a successful grammar lesson, from introduction to real-life application.

Transcripts

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