How to Teach English Grammar: Your Approach (Part 1)

Summary

Chris Westergard from the Language House addresses the common apprehensions English teachers face when teaching grammar. He outlines a three-part video series to demystify the process, starting with the right mindset and understanding of grammar's purpose in communication. The series will cover preparing for a grammar lesson, effectively presenting grammar, and culminating in a demo lesson integrating ESA/PPP structures. Westergard emphasizes the importance of focusing on real-life usage over rote memorization of rules, providing practical steps for teachers to prepare engaging and effective grammar lessons.

Takeaways

• 📚 Chris Westergard from the Language House is releasing three videos focused on teaching grammar, a common challenge for new English teachers.
• 🔑 The primary reason for grammar lessons is to enable effective communication, not just to memorize rules and structures.
• 🎯 The first step in preparing a grammar lesson is to fully understand the grammar point, including its structures, uses, and why it's used.
• 📝 Teachers should focus on teaching one or two main functions of a grammar point to ensure clarity and practical usage in the lesson.
• 🏁 Plan the end of the lesson first, focusing on how students will use the grammar in a realistic, authentic situation (activation).
• 📉 Consider the level of the students when planning the lesson to ensure the grammar point is neither too simple nor too complex.
• 🎨 Use visuals and boardwork to aid in the presentation of the grammar point, making it more engaging for students.
• 📚 Select materials that support the presentation of the grammar point effectively, enhancing understanding and retention.
• 📉 Adjust the lesson based on whether the students have seen the grammar point before, adding nuance for more advanced students.
• 🌐 The topic of the lesson should not be the grammar itself but a subject that allows students to use the grammar in context.
• 🔄 Follow the ESA (Engage, Study, Activate) or PPP (Present, Practice, Produce) structure to organize the grammar lesson effectively.

Q & A

What is the main topic of Chris Westergard's video series?

The main topic of Chris Westergard's video series is teaching grammar to English language learners, focusing on the mindset and understanding necessary for a successful grammar lesson.

How many videos does Chris Westergard plan to release on this topic?

Chris Westergard plans to release three videos covering different aspects of teaching grammar.

What is the main focus of the first video in the series?

The first video focuses on the overall approach to teaching a grammar lesson, including preparation and mindset before presenting the grammar point.

What will be covered in the second video of the series?

The second video will provide a complete rundown of how to present grammar, including elicitation techniques, materials to use, and the duration and goals of the presentation.

What can viewers expect from the third video in the series?

The third video will be a demo lesson, showing how to create and conduct a grammar lesson from start to finish, incorporating ESA or PPP structures for successful learning outcomes.

Why does Chris emphasize that grammar lessons should be about usage rather than memorization of rules?

Chris emphasizes usage because grammar is a tool for effective communication in real-life situations, and learning should focus on enabling students to apply grammar correctly in context rather than just knowing the rules.

What is the first fundamental step Chris suggests for preparing to teach a grammar lesson?

The first fundamental step is to know the grammar point inside out, being comfortable with its structures, usage, and being able to give examples in various forms.

According to Chris, why should teachers avoid trying to teach every aspect of a grammar point in a single lesson?

Teachers should avoid this because it leads to confusion and an overly long presentation. Focusing on one or two functions and exploiting them ensures clarity and practical usage in the lesson.

What is the term used for the stage in the ESA or PPP structure where students use the language in an authentic situation?

The term used for this stage is 'Activation' in ESA or 'P' for the production phase in PPP.

Why is it important to plan the activation or production stage of a lesson before the presentation of the grammar point?

Planning the activation stage first is important because it helps define the end goal of the lesson, ensuring that the grammar point taught is directly applicable to a realistic communication scenario.

What should a teacher consider when deciding on the level of difficulty for a grammar lesson?

A teacher should consider whether the grammar point is new or familiar to the students, and adjust the complexity and nuance of the lesson accordingly to ensure it is neither too easy nor too difficult.

Why does Chris advise against making the grammar point the main topic of the lesson?

Chris advises against this because grammar itself is not inherently interesting; it should serve as a tool to communicate about a specific topic or situation, making the lesson more engaging.

What is the acronym ESA stand for, and how does it relate to the PPP model?

ESA stands for Engage, Study, Activate, which is similar to the PPP model (Present, Practice, Produce), both focusing on introducing a topic, practicing it, and then applying it in a real-life context.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Grammar Teaching Series

Chris Westergard from the Language House introduces a three-part video series aimed at demystifying grammar teaching for English teachers. He acknowledges the common fear associated with teaching grammar and outlines the series' goal to provide a comprehensive approach to grammar lessons. The first video will focus on the overall teaching approach and preparation for a grammar lesson. The second will delve into the presentation of grammar, including elicitation techniques and materials. The final video will offer a demo lesson, illustrating how grammar fits into ESA or PPP structures for maximum effectiveness. Chris also promotes the TEFL certification course in Prague offered by the Language House.

05:00

🤔 The Purpose and Preparation for Grammar Teaching

This paragraph emphasizes the importance of understanding the purpose of teaching grammar, which is to enable students to use it as a communication tool rather than just learning rules. It stresses the need for teachers to have a deep understanding of the grammar point they are teaching, including its structures and usage. The paragraph also advises teachers to focus on one or two functions of the grammar point to avoid overwhelming students and to plan the activation or production stage first, ensuring the lesson culminates in practical usage. Additionally, it touches on considering the students' level and prior knowledge, and the importance of selecting appropriate materials and a topic that facilitates communication, not just grammar rules.

10:01

🎨 Structuring the Grammar Lesson for Effective Learning

The final paragraph of the script discusses the structure of an effective grammar lesson using the ESA (Engage, Study, Activate) model, which parallels the PPP (Present, Practice, Produce) model. It outlines the importance of introducing a relevant topic to engage students, not the grammar point itself. The lesson should include a lead-in with questions, a clear presentation of the grammar point, and two stages of study: one in a controlled setting and the other allowing more freedom for students to use the language. The ultimate goal is the activation phase, where students apply the grammar in a realistic scenario. The paragraph concludes with a reminder of the importance of the activation stage and a teaser for the second video, which will cover how to effectively present grammar points.

Keywords

💡Grammar

Grammar refers to the set of structural rules governing the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language. In the context of the video, grammar is the focal point of the teaching method being discussed. The script emphasizes that grammar should be taught not just as a set of rules, but as a tool for effective communication, which is a key theme of the video.

💡English Teachers

English teachers are professionals who instruct students in the English language. The script mentions that teaching grammar can be a daunting task for new English teachers, particularly because they might not have the right mindset or understanding of what constitutes a successful grammar lesson.

💡Mindset

Mindset, in this context, refers to the mental attitude or perspective that teachers have towards teaching grammar. The video suggests that having the right mindset is crucial for successfully teaching grammar, implying that teachers should view grammar as a means for communication rather than just a set of rules to memorize.

💡Grammar Lesson

A grammar lesson is a specific educational session dedicated to teaching and practicing grammatical structures. The script discusses the approach to creating effective grammar lessons, emphasizing preparation, presentation, and the importance of real-life usage over rote learning.

💡Presentation

In the context of teaching, presentation refers to the way in which new material is introduced to students. The script outlines that the presentation of grammar should be done in a manner that elicits understanding and facilitates learning, using appropriate materials and minimizing excessive lecturing.

💡ESA/PPP Structure

ESA stands for Engage-Study-Activate, while PPP stands for Present-Practice-Produce. Both are teaching methodologies that involve introducing a topic (Engage/Present), studying or explaining it (Study/Practice), and activating or producing it through use in a communicative context. The script uses these structures as a framework for organizing a grammar lesson.

💡Usage

Usage in the script refers to the practical application of grammar in real-life communication. The video stresses that the ultimate goal of teaching grammar is to enable students to use it effectively in various communicative situations, rather than just knowing the rules.

💡Preparation

Preparation, as discussed in the script, is the process of teachers equipping themselves with a thorough understanding of the grammar point they will teach. It involves studying, doing exercises, and gaining a deep understanding of the grammar's structures and applications, which is essential for effective teaching.

💡Activation

Activation, in the context of the ESA model, is the final stage where students apply the language they have learned in an authentic communicative situation. The script highlights the importance of planning the activation first, as it sets the end goal for the lesson and guides the selection of what grammar elements to teach.

💡Lecture Style

Lecture style is a traditional teaching method where the teacher delivers information to students in a one-way communication format. The script criticizes the lecture style for teaching grammar, suggesting that it is less effective than interactive methods that promote real-life usage and understanding.

💡Teaching Point

A teaching point refers to a specific concept or skill that is the focus of a lesson. In the script, it is advised that teachers should select one or two functions of a grammar point to teach, rather than attempting to cover everything, to ensure clarity and practical application in the lesson.

💡Materials

Materials in teaching refer to the resources and aids used to facilitate learning. The script suggests that when presenting grammar, teachers should use visual aids, boardwork, or color schemes to make the lesson more engaging and easier to understand.

💡Topic

In the context of the video, a topic is the subject matter around which a lesson is built. The script emphasizes that the grammar point should not be the topic of the lesson itself, but rather a tool to discuss a more engaging and relevant topic, to maintain student interest and facilitate communication.

Highlights

Chris Westergard introduces a series of three videos aimed at demystifying grammar teaching for English language teachers.

The first video focuses on the overall approach to teaching a grammar lesson and preparation strategies.

The second video will provide a detailed guide on presenting grammar, including elicitation techniques and materials to use.

The third video is a demo lesson showcasing how grammar fits into an ESA or PPP structure for successful teaching.

Teaching grammar should prioritize real-life usage over rote memorization of rules.

Understanding the purpose of grammar teaching is crucial for developing effective lessons.

Teachers must have a deep understanding of the grammar point they are teaching to ensure clarity in lessons.

Selecting one or two functions of a grammar point to focus on can make teaching more practical and less overwhelming.

Planning the activation or production stage of the lesson first helps in structuring the lesson towards real-life usage.

The grammar point should support communication about a specific topic, not be the topic itself.

Teachers should adjust the complexity of the grammar lesson based on the students' language level and prior knowledge.

Materials used in grammar presentation should include visuals and a clear color scheme to aid understanding.

Grammar should not be the main topic of the lesson to avoid boredom and to engage students more effectively.

The ESA model (Engage, Study, Activate) is a recommended structure for grammar lessons, paralleling the PPP model.

The intro phase of a lesson should introduce the topic, not the grammar point, to set the context for learning.

Study phases in the ESA model involve presenting and practicing the grammar point in controlled and then open settings.

The activation phase is the culmination of the lesson where students apply the grammar in an authentic context.

Transcripts

hello everybody it's chris westergard

from the language house it's been a

while it's been a long time since my

last video

to make up for it i've got three videos

for you all covering the topic of

teaching grammar which is usually the

fear

and the terror of new english teachers

and part of the reason for that is that

oftentimes new teachers and even

experienced teachers don't have the

right mindset and the right

understanding of what makes a successful

grammar lesson so

three videos for you this first video is

going to be about your overall approach

how should you approach teaching a

grammar lesson and what are some things

that you can do to prepare

beforehand for the grammar point

or the grammar lesson the next video

video number two is going to be about

the presentation itself so we're going

to go through a complete rundown of how

to present grammar how to elicit it what

type of materials to use how much should

you be speaking or explaining and

generally like how long all of this

should last and what should the goals be

for this part of the lesson in the final

video video number three we're going to

do a demo lesson so we'll create a

lesson together

and we'll go through it start to finish

that you can keep so you'll see kind of

how grammar fits into an esa or a ppp

structure and how to make them as

successful as possible because that's

the point to be as successful as you

possibly can

in the classroom if you like this

content and if you like this channel

please do hit the subscribe button it

means a lot and if you have any thoughts

or if you want to let me know something

just drop a comment below so let's get

started with video number one your

approach to grammar and how you can prep

for it but before going into the video

do check out our tefl certification

course in prague the language house it's

um it's a great program for anyone who's

interested in learning how to teach

abroad with yours truly and the rest of

the language house staff so let's start

with video number one when most

non-teachers and even some experienced

english teachers think of teaching a

grammar point they probably imagine

themselves up in front of a group of

students in front of the board

lecturing their way through all of the

different rules functions examples

concepts nuances

of a specific grammatical point it's not

too difficult to imagine this i think we

can all think of the teacher up in front

of a class with lots of notes on the

board and

basically just going through everything

in a lecture style mode maybe some of

the other students are taking notes

maybe there's a little bit of questions

going back and forth but a lot of people

would imagine this kind of lecture style

approach to teaching a grammar point and

if you think this way you're you're

thinking about it wrong part of the

reason for this is before we start

thinking of what makes a successful

grammar lesson we have to really come to

some sort of conclusion as to why we

teach grammar in the first place do we

teach grammar so that our students can

come away

from the lesson knowing all of the

different rules and functions and

structures or do we teach grammar

because in real life our students need

grammar as a tool to effectively

communicate with one another

if you pick the if you if you pick the

latter you're correct

learning all of the rules and functions

in a lecture-style way doesn't really do

much our lesson should be about usage

case in point um

if i want my students to be able to talk

about their life experiences or

a character that they're playing in

fictional life experiences

the grammar that i'm going to be using

is present perfect i'm teaching the

grammar so that they can effectively

talk about these things if i want

students to compare different types of

cars or bond characters or movies or

authors or

you know and decide who is better than

this person and the best and who is more

talented

the grammar that i'm teaching

is going to be comparative and

superlative if i want students to talk

about how their lives would be different

if they won a million dollars and the

things that they would buy and the

things that they would change

the grammar that they need for that is

the second conditional so there's not

really it's not really useful to just

teach rules and guidelines and

examples and structures it should always

be about usage and that's the main point

of this first video and as we go through

the other videos remember that teaching

a successful grammar lesson is always

going to be about usage in a real life

situation with actual language with

people making decisions on what they're

saying and what they're not saying and

it's less about all of the specific

rules the rules are important but it

leads up to this real life usage

all right before you teach an effective

grammar lesson it's important to do a

few fundamental things uh point number

one is you have to know your grammar

point inside out you really need to be

comfortable with it you need to know

about the different structures of how

the grammar is used you need to know and

be able to give examples in both the

question and the negative form

and most importantly it's important for

you to have a deep and solid

understanding of when we use it so many

times when teachers start

when teachers start teaching grammar

they really don't know

what they're teaching and why we use

this grammar and why we don't and the

lesson becomes a mess also it's very

difficult to plan a grammar lesson if

you don't have a fundamental

understanding of it and if you do if you

do that work if you do a little bit of

study in advance the whole planning

process becomes easier so grab some sort

of a grammar book do actual grammar

exercises read up on the grammar point

until you really understand it and for

the most part you should be able to do

your presentation later on without too

many notes because you know it already

that's the goal

once you understand your grammar point

what you should do at this point is pull

out one or two functions and only teach

those functions meaning what the grammar

is is used for a lot of times when new

teachers start teaching grammar they

want to teach everything about the

grammar point and that is not practical

because again it's about usage and in a

lesson you're not going to be able to

use every single

use for a specific tense you want to

pick out one or two and really exploit

those and have it where that is the

focus of your actual lesson if you try

to teach everything your presentation is

going to become extremely confusing and

extremely long and you really won't get

anywhere once you've thought of a few

functions that you'd like to teach you

need to jump to the very end of your

lesson

and start planning your activation your

activation if you're not familiar with

is the a stage in esa or the p stage in

ppp they're all p's so that would be the

production stage and this is where you

have students use the language in a

situation that is authentic as possible

and it's important to jump to the end of

your lesson and start thinking of that

because that is essentially your goal

you're not interested in having students

just do worksheets and take a bunch of

notes we are interested in usage so you

really need to think of that

end goal how are students going to be

using your grammar point as mentioned a

little bit earlier in the video you

could do something like comparative and

superlatives and have people compare a

variety of different family members or

you could have students talk about their

life experiences and all the places that

they have been and places that they

would like to go in the future based on

their past experiences

but the usage is important because that

again is the goal now that i have an

activation and i have an idea of where

the lesson is heading i can then look

back at my grammar point and i can think

and pull out the specific elements that

i need to teach so what exactly do i

need to teach to help my students get to

their activation there's going to be a

lot of elements in the grammar point

that i don't need to bring up and i

don't have to because they're not going

to be utilized later on in the lesson

again remember teaching grammar is not

about going over every single rule or

usage it's about making sure that the

students can eventually communicate

better at the end of their lesson in a

real life situation once this is done i

can now begin to think a little bit

about levels um you probably should have

thought about that already but i can

really begin to think is this

appropriate for the level that i'm

teaching is it going to be too easy or

too difficult have the students seen

this grammar point before am i adding

something onto it a lot of times what

teachers think is that they're teaching

a grammar point for the first time but

most of your students probably have seen

some version of the grammar point before

and that is important to think about in

advance because if i am teaching say the

present perfect to a group of a2

students this might be the first time

that they've seen this tense thus it's

going to take me a little bit more time

to get through it and i'll want to make

sure that my end goal is a little bit

simpler for them if i have a group of b1

or b2 students i can assume that they've

probably seen this before and i can add

a little bit more nuance to it some

extra concepts that maybe they haven't

seen before that we can use again

in the activation part of the lesson

this point of the pre-work i have a

grammar point i understand it really

well because i did a bunch of research

on it

i know what my final goal is my speaking

activity my role play my activation my

production part blah blah blah

i've thought about the level a little

bit and if it will be easy for them or

difficult and how can i adjust it to

make it more appropriate now what i want

to do is think about the materials that

i'm going to use in my presentation

there's a variety of different ways to

make this work but it is good to add

some sort of visuals or some sort of

boardwork or some sort of color scheme

and we'll talk about this when we go

over the presentation part in video

number two lastly i want to come up with

a topic for the entire lesson now you

might be asking yourself isn't the

grammar the topic of the lesson and the

answer is no it's not the grammar again

helps students communicate about a

specific topic or about a specific

situation but the grammar point itself

should never be

the actual topic of the lesson you

should never lead in with your grammar

point and the reason for this is that

that's kind of boring we don't sit

around talking about grammar why would

you lead in to your students doing that

so going back to some of the examples

that i gave you if i'm doing a lesson on

comparative and superlatives where

students are comparing various different

family members and potentially setting

up different family members for a date

um

the topic of a lesson could be family or

could be dating or it could be something

you never want to have your grammar be

the main focus or the main topical

element of your lesson because grammar's

boring so let's go over a quick recap of

the structure that we're going to be

using in this video so it's all clear

and there's no misconceptions

we use at the language house the esa

model so you're engaged study activate

it is very similar to the ppp

present practice produce

and these two are very similar to

basically any type of teaching scenario

which involves with teaching something

having students practice it and then

having students use it in a real life

setting so to break it down in the esa

structure we have our intro where we

introduce our topic again not our

grammar point but our topic

lead in we have questions where students

speak about their topic

target language this is where we present

the actual new grammar point

study one and study two

this is practice of the grammar point

study one being in a closed setting

study two being in more open where

there's a little bit more freedom and

what the students can say and use and

then lastly we get to our goal the

activation which is the most important

part of the lesson where students use

the grammar point in a real life

scenario that's it for video number one

check out video number two where we go

over how to effectively present your

grammar point stay tuned