Grammar Rules and Explanations

Sorry it has been so long since my last posting, but I'm back! I came across this quotation in Thornbury's chapter "How to Teach Grammar from Rules," and I wanted to share it with you.

He says, "The point was made that it is not often the case that a linguist's version of a rule will be appropriate in a classroom context, and there will inevitably be, therefore, some trade-off between the truthfulness of a rule and the pedagogical worth of a rule" (p. 32).

I find the last part particularly interesting and I wanted to get your opinion on it. What do you think he means by "truthfulness" and "pedagogical worth"? How can being aware of the difference make us better grammar teachers?

Is there life after grammar?

Read the following article by Scott Thornbury, a world-recognized ESL writer and researcher, and answer the following two questions:

1. How is Thornbury's view different or similar to Larsen-Freeman's?

2. What do you think about the suggestions he gives in the final section of the article? Could you apply them to your own teaching context(s)?

What is Grammar?

Please answer these questions related to Thornbury's chapter "What is Grammar?" by drawing on your experience as an English teacher and a language learner.

1. What comes to mind when you hear the word grammar? Make a list of words below.
2. Look back at the list you just wrote. Do the words reveal any specific view of grammar and/or grammar teaching?
3. Do you think that students have their own definition of grammar? Why could it be important to be aware of this definition when you teach grammar?