scholarly journals A Critical Review of Grammar Teaching Methodologies in the Saudi Context

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
Abeer Sultan Althaqafi
Keyword(s):  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Grammar Teaching ◽  
Study And Teaching ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Teaching Grammar ◽  
Changing Role

‘Grammar is the business of taking a language to pieces, to see how it works’ (Crystal, 1996, p. 6). The study of grammar has fascinated people for many years, especially in the field of second language acquisition (SLA). However, in recent years people became uncertain about its value. Consequently, some educational institutions ceased to teach it, others teach it very selectively (Crystal, 1996; Ellis, 2002). To know grammar means to know more about how to manipulate the parts of a sentence in order to provide a meaningful expression. Teaching grammar has been subjected to a tremendous change, particularly throughout the twentieth century. There has always been a development in thinking about the nature of language which has enabled people to see the point of the study and teaching of grammar. Also, there have been quite a number of adaptations of various methodologies of teaching grammar. This language component (grammar) has been always the centre of pedagogical attention. The aim of this project is to discuss the changing role of teaching grammar from a Saudi teacher’s perspective, and to explore why some Saudi EFL teachers might wish to change their approach to teaching grammar and how they might do so. In addition, the following section will try to shed light on some of the salient grammar methods throughout the field of English language teaching (ELT) and provide some implications for EFL teachers and learners.

scholarly journals Translation in EFL Classroom

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-117
Author(s):  
Arta TOÇI
Keyword(s):  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
First Language ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
East European ◽  
History Of Research ◽  
History Of

Throughout much of the history of research into second language acquisition (SLA), the role of learners’ first language (L1) has been a hotly debated issue. Prodromou (2000) refers to the mother tongue as a ‘skeleton in the closet’, while Gabrielatos (2001) calls it a ‘bone of contention’. Such views are but a mere reflection of the different methodological shifts in English Language Teaching, which have brought about new and different outlooks on the role of the mother tongue. The conflict itself is taking place in academic circles rather than in classrooms, where the use of L1 is still considered unacceptable owing to the predominance of the communicative method in language teaching.   Research on the role that mother tongue has for the non-native learners of English has been conducted around the world, however none in North Macedonia. This research aims to explore some of the controversy regarding the use of the student’s first language (L1), as well as to suggest translation activities as a beneficial tool for the students of South East European University in Tetovo, North Macedonia. It also provides insights into native language interference in the process of translating from students’ mother tongue into English, and vs.

scholarly journals Grammar teaching in ELT: A cross-national comparison of teacher-reported practices

2020 ◽  
pp. 136216882096413
Author(s):  
Alexandra Schurz ◽  
Marion Coumel
Keyword(s):  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Educational Level ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Secondary English ◽  
Grammar Teaching ◽  
National Differences ◽  
Instructed Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Deductive Instruction

Today, the Common European Framework of Reference (2009), and with it the action-based approach, underlies English Language Teaching (ELT) curricula throughout Europe. However, actual teaching practices are likely to vary according to factors such as the educational level and supra-national differences, including legal guidelines and the level of extramural English, i.e. out-of-school use of English (Sundqvist, 2009). Those factors presumably influence the role of grammar teaching in foreign language classrooms, which has been the subject of continuous debate (see Graus & Coppen, 2016; Thornbury, 1999; Ur, 2011). Such potential differences in teacher-reported ELT practices across Europe have not yet been investigated in instructed second language acquisition research. Therefore, the present study aims to compare the type of instruction in lower vs. upper secondary school in Sweden, Austria, and France, countries ranking differently in the EF Proficiency index (Education First, 2019). 615 secondary English teachers across the three countries filled in an online questionnaire designed to assess their use of planned vs. incidental form focus, implicit vs. explicit, and inductive vs. deductive instruction (Ellis, 2001a, 2009; Long, 1991). Results seem to indicate that (1) in lower secondary, Swedish teachers teach less explicitly than teachers in Austria and France; (2) Sweden provides ELT that is more implicit-fluency-based than does Austria and France; (3) incidental (rather than planned) grammar teaching is more dominant in upper than in lower secondary across countries and in Sweden and France as compared to Austria; and (4) French teachers differ from the other groups in their application of more inductive rather than deductive instruction. We argue that both the educational level and a country’s language policies and ideologies – and consequently also the extent to which they encourage use and exposure to extramural English – may be determining factors in the type of instruction applied in ELT.

scholarly journals Exploring Inductive Grammar Teaching: English Teacher Perspectives

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-119
Author(s):  
Didin Nuruddin Hidayat
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
English Education ◽  
Teacher Perspectives ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
English Teacher ◽  
Grammatical Structure ◽  
Teaching English ◽  
Grammar Teaching ◽  
Grammatical Structures

ABSTRACT In the past few decades, the discussion of what grammatical structures to teach, and how to teach them remains controversial (Ellis, 2006). This research study aimed to explore the role of inductive grammar teaching toward specific grammatical structure, i.e. the second conditional or the unreal/hypothetical conditional. In light of this, ten English teachers were involved in this study, providing beneficial feedback through their experience in English language teaching. They were given two sessions of inductive grammar teaching, and were asked to provide feedback. The results showed that inductive grammmar teaching possessed its strengths and weaknesses. One strength would be from its ability in engaging more active participation from the students. However, a notable weaknessess was in terms of its lack of opportunities in explicit grammatical explanation. ABSTRAK Dalam beberapa dekade terakhir, diskusi tentang struktur tata bahasa apa yang perlu diajarkan, dan bagaimana mengajarkan struktur tata bahasa tersebut tetap menjadi isu yang kontroversial (Ellis, 2006). Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengeksplorasi peran pengajaran tata bahasa induktif terhadap struktur tata bahasa tertentu, yaitu the second conditional atau the unreal/hypothetical conditional. Untuk itu, sepuluh guru bahasa Inggris dilibatkan dalam penelitian ini, memberikan umpan balik yang bermanfaat melalui pengalaman mereka dalam bidang pengajaran bahasa Inggris. Mereka diberi dua sesi pengajaran tata bahasa induktif, dan diminta untuk memberikan umpan balik. Hasilnya menunjukkan bahwa pengajaran grammmar induktif memiliki kekuatan dan kelemahannya. Salah satu kekuatan berasal dari kemampuannya dalam melibatkan partisipasi yang lebih aktif dari para siswa. Namun, salah satu kelemahan yang menonjol adalah dalam hal kurangnya peluang dalam menjelaskan tata bahasa secara eksplisit.   How to Cite: Hidayat, D.N. (2017). Exploring Inductive Grammar Teaching: English Teacher Perspectives. IJEE (Indonesian Journal of English Education), 4(2), 111-119. doi:10.15408/ijee.v4i2.8538. 

scholarly journals THE IMPLICATION OF PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS BELIEF ABOUT GRAMMAR TEACHING AND LEARNING FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE POLICY IN INDONESIA

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 133
Author(s):  
Cecilia Titiek Murniati ◽  
Angelika Riyandari
Keyword(s):  
Language Policy ◽  
Classroom Practice ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Grammar Teaching ◽  
English Language Policy ◽  
Teachers Beliefs ◽  
Special District ◽  
Teaching Grammar

Recent studies have suggested that teachers beliefs have a significant influence on actual classroom practice and, consequently, on students achievements. However, little research has been done to investigate the influence of Indonesian language policy and teachers beliefs. The study reported seeks to examine the influence of English language policy on pre-service teacher's beliefs about the teaching of English language grammar in Indonesian schools. The research participants were pre-service teachers who have taken the subjects of Structure, Teaching Methods, and Micro-teaching in three public and private universities in Central Java and Yogyakarta Special District. Due to time and scheduling limitations, the sampling method used in this study was convenient sampling. Documentation, survey schedules, interviews, focus group discussions were used to gather the data. The findings revealed that although the language policy in Indonesia has put English language teaching and learning within the framework of communicative competence since the enactment of the 2006 School-based Curriculum, the pre-service teachers still believed that traditional method of teaching grammar (explicit grammar instruction) was imperative to use. The pre-service teachers tended to exclude English language policy enacted by Indonesian government in their discussion about teachers beliefs. Instead, the pre-service teachers constructed their beliefs about English language grammar teaching and learning process on their prior experiences in learning and teaching grammar.

scholarly journals The Role of Google Classroom in ELT

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukmawati Sukmawati ◽  
Nensia Nensia
Keyword(s):  
Blended Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Learning Activities ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Learning Material ◽  
Higher Educational Institutions

Google Classroom is to offer a platform of blended learning in schools in order to simplify creating assignments and getting the grade out to the students in a paperless way. There are many facilities provided by Google classroom, they are: it will make easier for teachers to carry out learning activities, the intended learning is not only in class, but also outside the classroom because students can learn wherever and whenever by accessing google classroom online. Subject that relating to discuss as in the mobile that emphasize the acquisition of observational skills; and allow students to see the concept of teaching and learning material. The main purpose of the study is to investigate a role of Google classroom in English Language Teaching (ELT). The data was collected through an interview with 16 respondents. This study helped the decision makers of the higher educational institutions to have a better understanding of the role of using Google classroom by their students. It is assumed that it helped in measuring the level of students’ attention to the previously mentioned technology.

Singapore, grammar, and the teaching of ‘internationally acceptable English’

English Today ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 13-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom McArthur
Keyword(s):  
21St Century ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Formal Grammar ◽  
Grammar Teaching ◽  
International Language ◽  
Regional Language ◽  
Teaching Grammar ◽  
Opening Address

A consideration of the place of, and options for, explicitly teaching grammar to learners of English as an international language. A development of the opening address given at a conference on the teaching of grammar at the Regional Language Centre (RELC) in Singapore in November 2003. The key issue of the conference was whether the English-language skills of Singaporean school leavers would be improved through a revival of explicit and formal grammar teaching in the Lion City's 21st-century classrooms. The paper addresses this issue in both current and historical terms, going back indeed, at the end, to the beginnings of Western-style grammar teaching among the Greeks. While doing this, however, it also considers the nature and role of what the Singaporean government takes to be the proper target for its future citizens: speaking and writing an internationally acceptable English.

Machine Translation for EFL

Relay Journal ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 228-235
Author(s):  
Paul J. Moore ◽  
Phil Murphy ◽  
Luann Pascucci ◽  
Scott Sustenance
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Machine Translation ◽  
English Language ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Technical Developments ◽  
English Language Institute ◽  
Changing Role

This paper reports on an ongoing study into the affordances of free online machine translation for students learning English as a foreign language (EFL) at the tertiary level in Japan. The researchers are currently collecting data from a questionnaire, task performance, and interviews with 10-15 EFL learners in an English Language Institute in a university in Japan. The paper provides some background on the changing role of translation in language learning theory and pedagogy, before focusing literature related to technical developments in machine translation technology, and its application to foreign language learning. An overview of the research methodology is provided, along with some insights into potential findings. Findings will be presented in subsequent publications.

Developing conversational competence through language awareness and multimodality: the use of DVDs

ReCALL ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 283-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Moreno Jaén ◽  
Carmen Pérez Basanta
Keyword(s):  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Oral Communication ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Language Awareness ◽  
Multimodal Texts ◽  
Conversational Interaction ◽  
Conversational Competence ◽  
Oral Interaction

AbstractThe argument for a pedagogy of input oriented learning for the development of speaking competence (Sharwood-Smith, 1986; Bardovi-Harlig and Salsbury, 2004; Eslami-Rasekh, 2005) has been of increasing interest in Applied Linguistics circles. It has also been argued that multimedia applications, in particular DVDs, provide language learners with multimodal representations that may help them ‘to gain broad access to oral communication both visually and auditory’ (Tschirner, 2001: 305). Thus this paper focuses on an exploratory study of teaching oral interaction through input processing by means of multimodal texts.The paper is divided into a number of interconnected sections. First, we outline briefly what teaching conversation implies and examine the important role of oral comprehension in the development of conversational interaction. In fact, it has been suggested that effective speaking depends very much on successful understanding (Oprandy, 1994). In this paper we pay special attention to the crucial role of context in understanding oral interactions. Therefore, we outline the theory of context in English Language Teaching (ELT). The discussion draws on approaches to teaching conversation and it also offers a brief reflection about the need for materials which might convey the sociocultural and semiotic elements of oral communication through which meaning is created.We then discuss the decisions taken to propose a new multimodal approach to teaching conversation from a three-fold perspective: (a) the selection of texts taken from films, and the benefits of using DVDs (digital versatile disc); (b) the development of a multimodal analysis of film clips for the design of activities; and (c) the promotion of a conversation awareness methodology through a bank of DVD clips to achieve an understanding of how native speakers actually go about the process of constructing oral interactions.In sum, the main thrust of this paper is to pinpoint the advantages of using multimodal materials taken from DVDs, as they provide learners with broad access to oral communication, both visual and auditory, making classroom conditions similar to the target cultural environment (Tschirner, 2001).

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