The Role of Grammar in the Curriculum

The Role of Grammar The Role of Grammar in the Curriculumin the Curriculum

Michael E. Rudder, Ph.D.Regional English Language Officer

U.S. Embassy

Pre-CLT:Pre-CLT: Post-CLT:Post-CLT:

-Prescriptive -Descriptive

-Correction (accuracy) -selection (appropriate option)

-minimal context -broad context (utterance/sentence)(discourse)

-formal (rules/forms) -functional (use in communication)

Pre-CLT:Pre-CLT: Post-CLT:Post-CLT:

-taught deductively -taught inductively

-discrete items of study -integrated with skills

-decontextualized -contextualized

Grammar: Grammar: To teach or not to teach?To teach or not to teach?

What is unconsciously absorbed by natural acquisition is refined by conscious learning.(Stephen Krashen)

The importance of grammar can be derived from the proficiencies developed by the language curriculum.

(Jack Richards) Grammar affects performance in all four skills:

listening, speaking, reading, and writing. (Diane Larsen-Freeman)

DeductiveDeductive vs. Inductivevs. InductiveDeductive Individual learning styles/preferences Favored by some older and analytically-minded

learnersInductive More like natural language acquisition Conforms more to concept of interlanguage

development Communicative “feel” for language Intrinsic motivation

Grammar Practice Grammar Practice (Larsen-Freeman)(Larsen-Freeman)

Form-based

Meaning-based

Communicative-based

Form-based Form-based Production Production (Penny Ur)(Penny Ur)

1. Awareness2. Controlled drills3. Meaningful drills4. Guided meaningful practice5. Structure-based free sentence

composition6. Structure-based discourse7. Free discourse

Other ConsiderationsOther Considerations Mode of presentation (oral/written)

Terminology

Language (L1 or L2)

Explanation (balance between accuracy and simplicity)

Some RecommendationsSome Recommendations Practice reflecting authentic language

in real life contexts Integration with four basic skills Use of visual aids

(charts/graphs/maps/pictures/realia) Attention to purpose and communicative need Motivation (humor/games/“personalization”)

Alabama Love PoemAlabama Love Poem

Non-standard Grammar

1. Emphasis: Ain’t = negative + BE (am/is/are + not) (often used with double negative) Done + verb form (...done fell/eat/left) (used for present perfect tense) 

2. Ellipsis: yo’ = your mo’ = more ‘bout = about ya’ = you

Other vocabularyOther vocabulary

 just as soon = ratherhalf brother / sister = having one parent in common

but with a different father or motherkin = family relationgal = girlfather = pa, pappy, pop, pops, dad, daddymother = ma, mama, mammy, mom, mommy

Alabama Love PoemAlabama Love PoemSusie Lee done fell in love;She planned to marry Joe.

She was so happy ‘bout it allShe told her Pappy so. 

Pappy told her, “Susie gal,You’ll have to find another.

I’d just as soon yo’ Ma don’t know,But Joe is yo’ half brother.”

AnonymousAnonymous

So Susie put aside her JoeAnd planned to marry Will.But after telling Pappy this,

He said, “There's trouble still. 

You can’t marry Will, my gal,And please don’t tell your Mother,But Will and Joe and several mo’

I know is yo’ half brother.” 

But Mama knew and said, “My child,Just do what makes ya’ happy.

Marry Will or marry Joe.You ain’t no kin to Pappy.”