TeachingEnglish
grammar
Submitted by stu c on 7 July, 2009 - 22:07
How necessary is it for a teacher of English as a Foreign language to have a knowledge of English grammar?
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Hello, You have to have an excellent grasp of the English language or at least the rules and exceptions to teach English.
Best to you, study hard!
You should obviously be very clear about basic grammatical rules and structures. Your objective should be to make the students comfortable with the English Language. Initially let them come out and speak naturally. Do not make them too conscious about their mistakes. Gradually you will come to a point where the whole class loses whatever fear or apprehension they had about the English Language.
You can then introduce grammar. The delivery is the most critical as you need to make it an enjoyable experience for the students.
Grammar is very important that most English language teaching courses ask you about grammar. For instance, the Celta from Cambridge ask you to name the tense and each part that makes it. At the same time, you need to know the meaning of each tense because it`s the way you deliver the grammar to your ss, inductively.
You don`t want to confuse your ss with all the grammar, but you need to be well prepared for any questions coming from your ss.
I teach in Mexico and children are taught grammar when they are learning Spanish since kinder garten. They are so used to the grammar that if you don`t give it to them they feel very uncomfortable. So, what we do here in Mexico is to tech them how to use it in a natural way then present the grammar.
You need to get involve with the culture of the ss you are teaching and you need to know the needs of your ss.
I have only taught here in Mexico. If someone has some other opinion, I would like to hear it.
well im not a teacher yet soi cant give further comments about this but it would be nice to teach ss in a fun way. Teachers, in my trainee-school, tell us all the time that we have to include communicative acrivities in our lessons and that we have to make it"fun" for them.. But sometimes its difficult to find the way... more for an inexperienced teacher.