My thoughts about a Good Grammar Text for English Learners

For many years in the past – especially in the EFL (English as a Foreign Language) settings – the language teaching and learning had focused on the ability to use it for real-life communication with less or little attention on the grammar skill, and advocated proficiency-oriented language programs. However, the pendulum of language study has recently swung back to the importance of grammar, which definitely helps enhance the learners’ metalinguistic knowledge of the language and furthermore improve their speaking competency for communication.

One of the characteristics frequently observed among the intermediate-level students is that they are getting better at beginning conversations as well as able to respond to questions with longer answers or even ask questions of their own to keep the conversation going. Even if the intermediate-level students feel successful using a certain grammatical structure, sometimes they find themselves totally embarrassed about losing or forgetting the structure a few days later. In this respect, a good grammar text needs to focuses not only on the forms of the structures per se but also on the meaning as well as where, when, and why they are used to improve. That is, I believe that grammar textbooks are supposed to present clear authentic (=real-life) examples as well as clear explanation. Through a wealth of exercises for practice and keeping the amount of metalinguistic terms, concepts, and analysis to the minimum, the English learners will be able to take the load off and find what they need without knowing every grammar terms or grammarians’ jargon.

As Wilkins (1976) writes, “grammar is the means through which linguistic creativity is ultimately achieved.”, and I am a firm believer that grammar text should lead ESL/ EFL students away from the beginner’s concern or burden with form and dependence on memorization, to a new awareness of the meanings and uses of structures and a new creativity in communication.

Reference

Wilkins, D. (1976). Notional syllabuses. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Bland, S. (1996). Intermediate Grammar. NY: Oxford University Press

Expressions

metalinguistic knowledge: the learners' ability to correct, describe, and explain second language (L2) errors (Roehr, 2007)

per se: in itself, of itself, by itself

a wealth of something: a lot of something

jargon: special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand