How many times have you been in the middle of an activity or a lesson in class only to be stopped by a student asking a grammar question? While research shows that language learning occurs when emphasis is placed on practicing the language, students often get caught up in the grammar and other technical aspects of language. We don’t want to take up too much class time discussing grammar but we do need to show students that their questions on grammar or similar topics have a place in the classroom.
English Forward responds to situations like this with step seven of the lesson flow, which we call How English Works. This step is designed to give the instructor an opportunity to discuss a specific grammar point or cultural topic that comes up earlier in the English Forward lesson. The main rule the curriculum follows is that whatever topic is discussed in this step should be something that students have already come across in the lesson; we don’t want the students to have to work with new language patterns so late in the lesson.
While each English Forward lesson has step seven outlined in the curriculum, this can also be an opportunity to meet the needs or questions of your specific class. If you notice that your students are having trouble with a specific piece of grammar, or if there’s another grammatical or cultural topic you think would be of interest to your students, discuss it in this step. Step seven in the English Forward lessons isn’t meant to be prescriptive. Consider it a suggestion of one possible topic based on the lesson, but feel free to cover whatever topic your students need.
Of course, once you get into teaching higher levels of English, the thoughts around teaching grammar shift. For English Forward’s audience, though, How English Works well!
How do you integrate discussing English grammar or other technical aspects of language into your classroom? Let us know in the comments below!