How to teach grammar and functions - the basics

How to teach grammar and functions - the basics

There are several ways of teaching grammar and functions. The simplest way is to expose learners to lots of new language (through reading and listening), and eventually, they might see the patterns and be able to use it accurately (as we learn our first language).

There are various ways of speeding up this process, however, by focussing on the grammar structure or function and getting learners to practise it:

1/ TTT: Test-Teach-Test

a) Test: You start by 'testing' what learners already know with a simple interactive task that you think they are capable of achieving (but with inaccurate language). You, the teacher, listen to see what difficulties the learners have with the 'test' and where they make a lot of errors.

b) Teach: You then help learners with the language they need, eg. vocabulary, grammar, functions. They can work in small groups on different areas of language, or all work together on the same areas.

c) Test: Finally, give learners a similar (but slightly different eg. different topic or working with different partners) task to see if they can now complete it with more confidence and accuracy. They should feel a big sense of achievement.

For example: For an intermediate lesson on the function of 'predicting' with future simple and 'going to' a) TEST: pairs, talk about the weather next week and say what they think the weather will be each day' b) TEACH: learners work on vocabulary of weather terms, grammar of future simple and 'going to' and anything else that they had difficulty with c) TEST: different pairs take turns to be a TV weather forecaster, practise and, if possible, record their forecast

Have a look (and try out) these 5 easy-to-follow examples of TTT lessons here:

Media:5 simple TTT (TestTeachTest) lessons.pdf

2/ PPP: Presentation-Practice-Production

This is a traditional way of presenting language which may be easier for teachers (as you might feel more in control of the language and stages), but runs the risk of 'teaching' learners what they may already know. It's almost identical to TTT, but in a different order:

a) Presentation - this is the 'Teach' section in TTT. The teacher presents the target grammar or function, for example with pictures, mime, mini-context or examples where the meaning is clear.

b) Practice - this is like the first 'Test' section in TTT. Learners have controlled practice of the new language in an interactive task.

c) Production - like the final 'Test' part of TTT. Learners produce the new language in a freer, communicative practice task.

For example: For an intermediate lesson on the function of 'predicting' with future simple and 'going to a) PRESENTATION: present the vocabulary of weather terms and the grammar of predicting (future simple and 'going to') b) PRACTICE: learners practise by talking about what they predict for the weather next week c) PRODUCTION: pairs prepare and perform as TV weather forecasters

3/ ESA: Engage-Study-Activate