Teaching English Grammar Penny Ur 2015

Interim summary

• We shall teach standard grammatical forms and meanings.
• The teaching and learning of such forms and meanings is important.
• Both explicit and implicit strategies should be used when teaching grammar.

Some implications for classroom teaching and teaching materials

Combining explicit and implicit classroom strategies

• Explanations
• Learning by heart, language play
• ‘Focus on form’
• Practice

Explanations

Proactive or reactive

May be ‘proactive’: based on a grammatical syllabus.

May be ‘reactive’: based on something that has come up in a text or task (‘focus on form’).

Deductive or inductive

May be deductive: the teacher or textbook explains, the rule is then implemented in examples (or practice)

May be inductive: the teacher provides examples, learners then work out the rule

Induction

• Here is a list of sentences.
• We have been working here for a long time.
• They have been in the country since 1995.
• The program has been going on for ten minutes.
• I have loved this singer since the begining.
• We have been studying English for four years.
• She has lived in Haifa since she got married.
• When do you use since and when do you use for?