Approaches to the teaching of grammar
- 2. YOU CAN TEACH GRAMMAR… O FROM RULES: DEDUCTIVE APPROACH O FROM EXAMPLES: INDUCTIVE APPROACH
- 3. DEDUCTIVE APPROACH (rule-driven) This approach starts with the PRESENTATION of a RULE and is followed by examples in which the rule is applied. The explanation is always staged in two parts: explanation of the rule of FORM and explanation of the rule of USE.
- 4. ADVANTAGES OF DEDUCTIVE APPROACH OIt gets straight to the point (time- saving). OIt is ideal for students who have an analytical learning style. OIt allows the teacher to deal with language points as they come up (rather than having to prepare them in advance).
- 5. DISADVANTAGES OF DEDUCTIVE APPROACH O Students may not have sufficient metalanguage (such as grammar terminology) O Teacher-fronted, transmition-style classroom (in general there is no student interaction or involvement). O Explanation is generally NOT as effective as demonstration. O Students may believe (wrongly) that learning a language means learning rules.
- 6. INDUCTIVE APPROACH (rule-discovery) This approach starts with some examples from which a rule is inferred. It is also called EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING (based on the concepts of how we learn our first language: through exposure to a massive amount of input the regularities and patterns of the language become evident, independent of conscious study and explicit rule formulation). BUT only possible in foreign language speaking communities
- 7. ADVANTAGES OF INDUCTIVE APPROACH O Rules sts discover by themselves are most likely to be learnt than rules they are presented with. Rules become more meaningful and memorable. O Sts are more actively involve in the learning process. O Working things out for themselves is conducive to learner autonomy.
- 8. DISADVANTAGES OF INDUCTIVE APPROACH O The time taken to work out a rule may be at the expense of time practice. O Sts may hypothesize the wrong rule. O It can place heavy demands on teachers in planning a lesson. O Sometimes sts prefer simply to be told the rule.
- 9. O Source: Thornbury, S. (1999) How to Teach Grammar. Longman.