Michael Swan

Why do people worry so much about gramar? Michael says that there`s been a lot of research on language learning, language acquisition and also in the rea of gramar. However they dont really have a definite opinion about how it really works or happens. He also states that some new theories emphasize on the use of grammar, but there are others that don`t pay much attention to that. Well, I agree beacause I`ve noticed that some English learners memorize some grammar points when they`re studying, they put them into practice very well, but then, it`s difficult for them to use them naturally outside class. So he Michael Swan asks himself this question. Should we teach grammar at all? He says that theories are close to learners backgrounding. There are different methods like the communicative approach, opinions on this matter like Stephen Krashens who says that learning cannot lead to acquisition because the second one is an unconscious and spontaneous process and the lexical approach. He says that some native-speaking teachers use gramar because its convenient to them. As far as I`m concerned, we should teach some grammar when the situation requires it. I know that there are some grammar points that have some kind of complexity for spanish-speaking teachers and even for native speakers. I personnally think that grammar should be taught in context for example if I`m teaching the simple past, I could give my students some readings about stories in the past then I could ask them questions about the

past without them noticing that they`re using grammar and they`re also using the communicative approach, which is where we should put emphasis on. Well, to concludewe should learn how to instruct English learners to use authentic communication through the use of grammar and we could benefit from some of the theories that have been written, but only from those that have had effective results in the methodology of teaching grammar.

Thanks.

Moreno Latino