Teaching Grammar to Beginners: Tips and Structure for a Perfect Lesson

Summary

In this instructional video, Chris Westergard from the Language House demonstrates a methodology called 'The Five Points' for teaching grammar to beginners. The approach focuses on limiting vocabulary, eliciting responses, extensive drilling, slow-paced presentation, and minimal language use to avoid confusion. The video specifically showcases teaching the present continuous tense through various stages, emphasizing mastery and real-time application over mere memorization. Westergard's tips include using an economy of language, eliciting everything, and ensuring students can ask and answer questions authentically.

Takeaways

• 📚 Focus on a few grammatical variables to simplify the learning process for beginners.
• 🗣️ Elicit everything from students to encourage active participation and understanding.
• 🔄 Drill a lot to reinforce new grammar concepts through repetition.
• 🔍 Move slowly through the presentation to ensure comprehension without overwhelming students.
• 💬 Use an economy of language to avoid confusion and maintain clarity.
• ❓ Focus on questions and negatives to build conversational skills.
• 👕 Keep the vocabulary pool minimal, using familiar or very basic words to avoid confusion.
• 👉 Demonstrate grammar points using mime, visuals, or comparison with known tenses for better understanding.
• 📈 Practice in chunks to gradually build up to mastering the full structure of sentences.
• 🔄 Gradually remove prompts and notes to transition students to free practice.
• 🎯 Aim for mastery by providing multiple reps and variations to make the language come naturally to students.

Q & A

What is the main challenge of teaching grammar to beginners who do not speak English?

The main challenge is explaining or lecturing through a lesson without using translation, as it's not effective, and ensuring they can understand and use the language with limited language understanding.

What is the 'Five Points' methodology mentioned in the script?

The 'Five Points' is a teaching methodology that focuses on a few grammatical variables, eliciting everything, drilling a lot, moving slowly through the presentation, using an economy of language, focusing on questions and negatives, and keeping the vocabulary pool to a minimum.

Why is it important to limit vocabulary when teaching grammar to beginners?

Limiting vocabulary prevents confusion and allows students to focus on the grammatical point itself, rather than getting overwhelmed with new words.

What is the purpose of focusing on questions and negatives in grammar lessons for beginners?

Focusing on questions and negatives helps beginners to understand and use the language in different contexts, promoting a more natural and authentic use of the language.

How does the script suggest eliciting the correct form of a verb from beginners?

The script suggests using examples, miming or demonstrating the action, using visuals like a timeline, and comparing the new tense to a known tense to elicit the correct verb form.

What does the script recommend for the initial vocabulary introduction in a grammar lesson?

The script recommends keeping the vocabulary introduction limited to a few items that the students already know or very basic words to avoid confusion.

Why is drilling important when teaching grammar to beginners?

Drilling is important because it helps beginners to say the sentences correctly and fluently, which can lead to natural usage of the language when they are comfortable with the structure.

How should teachers handle the teaching of grammar structures to beginners?

Teachers should introduce one structural variable at a time and gradually introduce more examples that cover different structures, testing students with variations to ensure understanding.

What is the significance of using visuals and context in teaching grammar to beginners?

Visuals and context help clarify the meaning of the grammar point, making it easier for beginners to understand without the need for extensive explanation or translation.

How does the script suggest moving from guided practice to free practice in grammar lessons?

The script suggests starting with all questions on the board, allowing students to use notes, and gradually removing prompts and questions until students can ask and answer questions in real time without any notes.

What is the final goal of teaching grammar to beginners as outlined in the script?

The final goal is for students to have a solid understanding of the grammar point and be able to ask and answer questions in real time with authenticity and mastery, regardless of their level.