Episode 15 – How to Teach Grammar for English Learners

When I say the word grammar, many people roll their eyes. Everyone has an opinion about it. Some had to diagram sentences and hated that. Some had to memorize the rules and loved that. But my question is: how do you teach a language without teaching the grammatical structures that make it what it is? The answer? You don’t. Grammar for English Learners is a must.

Why is grammar for English Learners intimidating for some teachers?

Teachers are often puzzled when they approach teaching grammar for a couple of reasons. Particularly if they are native English speakers, they often don’t feel like they know formal grammar rules very well. They just know when a phrase or sentence “sounds right.”

The other big struggle for teachers is not knowing what order makes sense to teach grammar rules to their students.

But the bottom line is ESL students do need to learn grammar so that they have a framework, a safety net, to rely on as they learn and practice the language. In fact, students often ask me for help with grammar and give a sigh of relief when they are handed a grammar worksheet. Remember, those rules provide them with a sense of safety.

In this podcast episode, I will break down the most important grammar points to touch upon when you get a new beginner English learner and the suggested order in which to teach them. 

What should I teach my English Learners about grammar?

The answer to this is deceivingly simple.Teach what your students need. In his book, The Grammar Answer Key: Short Explanations to 100 ESL Questions, Keith Folse, says: “First and foremost, teachers should teach what students need. If your students want to improve their conversation, then you should teach students about the forms that are common in conversation. On the other hand, if your students need to write academic papers, then you should teach grammatical patterns that are favored in academic writing”. (Folse, xiv)

While grammar worksheets are straightforward and popular, they do not always provide teachers with much information about their students ability to apply what they have learned in authentic situations.Students at the beginning need a lot of modeling and repetition to understand what is required of them. This can be achieved with grammar exercises appropriate to their age.

For example, younger children (ages 6-9) learn grammar best through play, singing and real-life use of grammatical structures because they are not able to process the abstract information that is grammar yet. Older students have the ability to think abstractly and therefore, form-focused grammar instruction works well with them. 

In what order should I teach grammar to my English Learners?

The order:

If you feel overwhelmed, I recommend picking a grammar focus for the week and modeling correct usage not only in what you are teaching but also in other forms that you have not touched upon yet. It is best to teach the standard form of a word and then build on it if and when necessary. 

These are the very basics of grammar that will take you and your students a considerable amount of time. And to make it easier for you to remember, I have created a downloadable grammar teaching sequence checklist for you. 

Here is what you will hear about Grammar for English Learners:

Resources

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