Prof.
Didin Florentina Gabriela Liceul de Arte ,,Dinu Lipatti” Pitesi
Different Methods of Teaching Grammar
English grammar is notoriously difficult to learn for both native and second-
language speakers. There are so many intricacies, obscure rules, and exceptions
that it comes as no surprise that different generations of teachers have used various
approaches to teaching grammar to train literate English writers. In the past,
memorization-based techniques that relied on repetition slowly gave way to more
creative methods. Today, we live in a society that prizes literacy and is willing to
adapt to more effective methods to achieve the best results in teaching grammar.
Diagramming Sentences
One of the older forms of teaching grammar, diagramming sentences, first
appeared in the 19th century. This method involves visually mapping the structures
of and relationships between different aspects of a sentence. Especially helpful for
visual learners, this method disappeared from modern teaching at least 30 years
ago. Different forms of diagramming are used to visualize sentences, from the
Reed-Kellogg System to dependency grammar, but all organize the functions of a
sentence in a way that illustrates the grammatical relationships between words.
More recently, diagramming sentences has had a small pop-culture resurgence in
prints of famous opening sentences and websites that allow you to diagram to your
heart’s content.
Learning Through Writing
This method is often used in schools in the U.S. and Canada. Students are
encouraged to explore
language through creative writing and reading, picking up correct grammar usage
along the way. If there are specific problems with certain grammatical rules, these
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Prof. Didin Florentina Gabriela Liceul de Arte ,,Dinu Lipatti” Pitesi
are covered in a more structured lesson. An emphasis is now being placed upon
language acquisition over language learning, as it has been observed that learning
grammar by memorization does not work well and that students are better able to
recognize and understand grammatical rules when lessons are more interactive
(i.e., they have to apply these rules in their own writing). Repeated practice is also
important and easily achieved through creative or personal writing exercises. This
article, posted by The Atlantic, suggests that to better equip future adult writers,
teachers in the 21st century should consider dropping outdated grammar teaching
techniques in early education and opt for learning through writing techniques.
Inductive Teaching
The inductive method of teaching grammar involves presenting several
examples that illustrate a specific concept and expecting students to notice how the
concept works from these examples. No explanation of the concept is given
beforehand, and the expectation is that students learn to recognize the rules of
grammar in a more natural way during their own reading and writing. Discovering
grammar and visualizing how these rules work in a sentence allow for easier
retention of the concept than if the students were given an explanation that was
disconnected from examples of the concept. The main goal of the inductive
teaching method is the retention of grammar concepts, with teachers using
techniques that are known to work cognitively and make an impression on
students’ contextual memory.
Deductive Teaching
The deductive method of teaching grammar is an approach that focuses on
instruction before practice. A teacher gives students an in-depth explanation of a
grammatical concept before they encounter the same grammatical concept in their
own writing. After the lesson, students are expected to practice what they have just
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Prof. Didin Florentina Gabriela Liceul de Arte ,,Dinu Lipatti” Pitesi
been shown in a mechanical way, through worksheets and exercises. This type of
teaching, though common, has many people—including teachers—rethinking such
methods, as more post-secondary level students are revealing sub-par literacy skills
in adulthood. As one former teacher states, deductive teaching methods drive many
students away from writing because of the tediousness of rote learning and teacher-
centered approaches.
Interactive Teaching
Another method of teaching grammar is to incorporate interactivity into
lessons. Using games to teach grammar not only engages students but also helps
them to remember what they’ve learned. This method allows teachers to tailor their
lessons to the different learning styles of students. For instance, each student can
be given a large flashcard with a word on it, and the students must physically
arrange themselves into a proper sentence. Other games can include word puzzles
or fun online quizzes.
Over the years, many methods have been developed for teaching grammar
and have been built upon, abandoned, or combined, all with the same goal in mind
—teaching students how to communicate effectively and understand how to use
the English language. Because of the grammatical complexity of English, each
method has its pros and cons. Some lessons are less likely to be remembered, while
others may require more in-depth explanation and practice. Regardless of how
grammar is taught, a well-rounded understanding of English grammar is the most
important factor in improving the literacy of students.
