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When do you think teachers should start teaching grammar?

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Question added by Majeda Tahboub , Expert Educator , Jude Publications
Date Posted: 2013/11/04
Mariam Youssef
by Mariam Youssef , English Teacher and coordinator , Elquds International School

I believe that this depends on the way of teaching. For example, if you are using the traditional way of teaching grammar: rule & exercises, at least we could start from grade 2 or3. However, by using learning by games or exploring, you can start from kg2 or grade1.

Ahmed Gendy
by Ahmed Gendy , English Senior Inspector , Ministry of Education (MoE)

Grammar isn't a whole language to start teaching it at a certain age.Grammar should be taught as a tool not a rule meaning that it should be taught within a context as language must be contextualized.Teaching new languages at a avery early age isn't correct as the target language will affect the native language.grammar should be taught deductively.Students must deduct the rule and use similar ones .Students have to know how to use them through talking or listening or through one of the four skills.The problem is that some teachers concentrate on the rules.They produce students who are good at grammar but not good at forming one sentence.The purpose of grammar is to serve the lanugage skills but it is meaningless in isolation.I was in a class two weeks ago,3rd year primary. the teacher was explaining past continuous structure.I used a very simple idea to pass it on to students.

he

she                                                    writing                    pepsi

it                                                         eating                       chocolate

they                  is       are               drinking                      pizza

we                                                                                           homework

pupils had to just match to form the tense.They had to match the subject with the verb and then with the ing form till they form a complete sentence.After that , they had to hive similar sentences of their own using their names or real objects inside the class.they found it enjoyable instead of telling them the formation as the formation will be forgotten but the practical drills will be fast in pupils' minds.pupils have to do a lot of practice within the context of the four skills.After I finished,pupils had to write a paragraph of four sentences about their eating and drinking  after doing homework during the day.

 

Thereisn't a certain age for starting to teach grammar but there is a certain age to start teaching languages.

Saiful Islam Hiron
by Saiful Islam Hiron , Site HR Manager , Handicap International

I do not think so because teacher is the mentor for the student to prepare as human being first. However, S/he is the mediator of transfer learning to increase the new knowledge.

it is not only a teacher that students depand on, but sometimes a teacher also depands on students,,,,first of all a teacher should "warm up" the students with the simplest questions about grammer and make them do the task below thier capacity,,,, once they have done them easily and put their interest in,,, get started according to your plan,,,,(whatever seems easy to you for students)

I am not an English Teacher, although even given my "mature" years I would like to be! In answer to Majeda's question I would suggest that as soon as you introduce "tenses" you are automatically introducing "grammar". Which leads me to conclude that grammar should be taught/introduced from the start of learning the language.

Nada Tahboub
by Nada Tahboub , Personal Assistant to Director , UNRWA, HQ Amman

I think fourth grade is the best time when childern can understand the real meaning of grammer

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