Debate on grammar

[shibli]

 "Grammar and exercises are only requirements of the syllabus, not of learning a language. Did you learn the grammar of your mother-tongue when you were acquiring it? Most of you may still not know the grammar of your mother-tongue but you speak it effortlessly."

This is taken from the preface of a textbook of English.

Do you agree?

It will help me if you could please comment on it.

[shibli]

Here goes a reply by a teacher

"We didn't learn the grammar of our first language before we were able to use it. I believe no native speaker of English was taught that you have to say "Do you have a car?", using the auxiliary "do" and subject-auxiliary inversion, instead of "You have a car?" or "Have you a car?"

I believe every native speaker started to say sentences like "The bank was robbed" before they knew what a passive sentence is. I also believe no native speaker has ever been taught when to use the present perfect and when to use the past simple (which is one of the hardest things to master for ESL students).

Maybe now you are wondering if you can do the same, if you can learn English like native speakers, without remembering a lot of confusing rules. I'm sorry, but the answer is you can't, unless you are less than 6 years old, generally speaking. What you read in that book only applies to native speakers and very young learners. For the other learners, like me and you, grammar is important, at least the basic grammar (advanced grammar might not be necessary).

And if you think grammar is necessary in order to get proficient and using high level correct English, well, that's not true. Those who use perfect and idiomatic English are able to do so because of their personal experience, not because they know grammar rules. Personal experience practically just means "How much you read and what you read". I don't know of anyone who speaks or write their language perfectly because they know the rules of their grammar.

So, to summarize, grammar is only necessary for grown-up ESL students, and is only necessary to "get started", not to get "proficient". To get proficient you need constant exposure to good and idiomatic English. That's all."

[shibli]

Aim: To improve conversational skills when supporting a point of view

Activity: Debate concerning the necessity of concentrating on grammar - and not games, conversation, etc. - when learning English

Level: Intermediate

Outline:

    * Review language used when expressing opinions, disagreeing, making comments on other person's point of view, etc. (See work sheet).
  
 * Lead a short discussion asking the student's opinion on what they consider to be the most important aspects of learning English well.
 
   * Ask students to consider the following statement: The most important ingredient of learning English is Grammar. Playing games, discussing problems, and having a good time is important. However, if we don't focus on grammar it is all a waste of time.
  
  * Based on students' responses, divide groups up into two groups. One group arguing for the prime importance of learning grammar, one group for the idea that learning just grammar doesn't mean that you are able to use English effectively. Important: Make sure that groups are put into the group with the opposite opinion of what they seemed to believe in the warm-up conversation.
  
  * Give students worksheets including ideas pro and con. Have students develop arguments using the ideas on the worksheet as a springboard for further ideas and discussion.
 
   * Once students have prepared their opening arguments, begin with the debate. Each team has 5 minutes to present their principal ideas.
 
   * Have students prepare notes and make rebuttal to the expressed opinions.
 
   * While the debate is in progress, take notes on common errors made by the students.
  
  * At the end of debate, take time for a short focus on common mistakes. This is important, as students should not be too involved emotionally and therefore will be quite capable of recognizing language problems - as opposed to problems in beliefs!

First World Obligation

You are going to debate the correctness of the following statement:

The most important ingredient of learning English is Grammar. Playing games, discussing problems, and having a good time is important. However, if we don't focus on grammar it is all a waste of time.

It is important to remember that you have been placed in your group based on what seems to be the opposite of what you really think. Use the clues and ideas below to help you create an argument for your appointed point of view with your team members. Below you will find phrases and language helpful in expressing opinions, offering explanations and disagreeing.

Opinions, Preferences:

I think..., In my opinion..., I'd like to..., I'd rather..., I'd prefer..., The way I see it..., As far as I'm concerned..., If it were up to me..., I suppose..., I suspect that..., I'm pretty sure that..., It is fairly certain that..., I'm convinced that..., I honestly feel that, I strongly believe that..., Without a doubt,...,

Disagreeing:

I don't think that..., Don't you think it would be better..., I don't agree, I'd prefer..., Shouldn't we consider..., But what about..., I'm afraid I don't agree..., Frankly, I doubt if..., Let's face it, The truth of the matter is..., The problem with your point of view is that...

Giving Reasons and offering explanations: To start with, The reason why..., That's why..., For this reason..., That's the reason why..., Many people think...., Considering..., Allowing for the fact that..., When you consider that... For the Importance of Focusing on Grammar

  * Without grammar, language doesn't exist.
  
 * How can I feel confident about using grammar if I don't understand the rules?

 * A solid knowledge of all the rules is necessary to speak a language well.

 * The best way to learn a language is practice, practice, practice the correct usage.

  * Good English means correct English.

  * Games do not promote learning, they promote having fun and nothing else.

  * Making mistakes reflect poor learning.
  
  * If we don't learn the rules we will not be able to improve our English when we are not attending English classes.

Communication Means More than Understanding Rules

    * Communication is possible even when we make mistakes

    * Understanding rules in my head doesn't mean that I can communicate.

    * There are many different styles of learning, some of which do not include "grammar banging".

    * The only thing that is important is that people can understand me and I can understand them.

    * Many native speakers make mistakes in grammar usage.

    * Doing grammar exercises all the time is boring and therefore leads to lack of attention.

    * Playing games is a great way to actually use the language - not just study it.

    * It is difficult to become fluent if the teacher interrupts me every 30 seconds to correct a grammar mistake.

    * Grammar is boring!

[shibli]

Dear students
It is necessary for us to start a writing particularly English writing with the correct usage of grammar. English speaking alone is not the only factor for you to achieve your dreams in life as you need to write an application letter if you are applying for a certain job. Employer would impress the way you write your application letter and there would be a big chance for you to be accepted in the job. Remember that writing properly could be your big asset towards success. Nowadays, even the original English speaker particularly the American ones could not write well letters with the correct usage of grammar. Though they are good speaking English well but with regards to writing a letter they void the rules.

If you are hit with these facts, don’t feel that you don’t have any hope no more. Even the original English speaker has the chance to straighten their curve English writing if they have time to look for some data in the net. There is actually a lot of information how to write proper English language in the net, or maybe you can spend a time of two to four engaging yourself in the English classes. It benefits you well since your English writing could not be the only focus of the lesson but also you’re English speaking. Grammar is truly a big help in many significant events as for writing an important proposal, it is necessary that your English writing is well correct so that it can be understood by the readers and your proposal could be recognized.

Accordingly, English grammar is an organization of rules identifying how meanings are created in English. There are two groups from the accounts of grammar. The descriptivist that describes the patterns on which meanings are typically made in functional speech and writing and the prescriptivist that set out pre-existing policies as how meanings are created.

When you are a person having a good communication in English from both in writing and speaking, there would be a lot of admirer. As for English teachers, it is expected from you that you can communicate English well so that your student would be impress and loves to listen on you. As a good English communicator, you can influence your students to attentively listen to you with all their cooperation. As for businessmen, English communication is also significant, for businessmen who are fluent in English both in writing and speaking could have been more businessmen to collaborate with them. And as a student having a good English communication is expectedly having a lot of admirer as well. Good English communicator is well respected and giving special attention from the higher position. Though it’s quite incredible, but try to notice the people who have a good sense of English then they are obviously impress almost everybody.

However, if you don’t have much time spending lessons for English from a typical school. You have much time engaging yourself in the net, enroll yourself in some of the available English schools in the net where it still provides you how the correct usage of English grammar is properly used.