Grammar Seminar II / Pamela

What is your idea about the following:

What is grammar?
How do learners learn grammar?
Why learn grammar?
How can I teach in a way that leads to effective learning?
Ways to present language

Activity Examples of activities Why do it Notes

type
Listening ‘live chat’ show Elicit TL in a Good for
and natural way intensives
speaking Personalise TL
Doing / Listening and doing Good for
physical Miming kinesthetic /
action Creating imaginary visual
situations Elicits language
Wakes up SS
Visuals Flashcards for vocab Visual learning
Pictures for situations Grammar is
Information gaps – “hidden”
pictures / items Recycle vocab
Realia Kinaesthetic
Dialogue Acting Visual learners
Noticing patterns Elicits language
Role play Helps them learn
Information gap – text to manipulate
1) diary / language
substitution
tables
2) making
questionnaires
3) making quizzes
Contrasting language
points
Reading Listening and reading – Can see how Good for TT as
noticing target language looks can be exploited
language patterns Gives it a context in many ways
– could deduce
meaning
Storytelling Speaking Gives it a context Good for
Pictures Makes it more personalisation
Dictagloss memorable
Adapting 1) make a new redo and review
coursebook exercise materials in a
exercises 2) a ‘wall’ dictation new way
 3) gallery feedback to relieve
4) Grammar boredom
auction
Revision 1) tapping fixes memory SS feel good that
2) rebuilding use old materials they know
3) mixed up in an active something
sentences context
4) human mixed up check SS
sentences understanding
5) growing
sentences
6) 100% gap fill

Teaching grammar through 2 contrasting patterns

Lead in: 2 pictures of people: what do they look like / what are they like?
1. Complete the dialogue.
a) Lily: What time ______ the train arrive?
Gil: Mmmmm. According to the timetable it ________ at 12:00.
b) Gil: What ____ you ______ this evening?
Lily: I_____ m________ Olga at 8:30pm.
c) Gil: When does the film start?
Lily: Let me see. Ah, yes, it ______ at 9:35.
d) Lily: Are you _______ supper tonight?
Gil: No. I____ ______ supper with Teri at the pizzeria.

2. Predict the concept checking questions. SS complete the table

A B C D
Is the conversation future future future future
about the present or
future?
Do we find the timetable diary timetable diary
events in a
timetable or a
diary?
Were the events sb else speaker sb else speaker
decided by one of
the speakers or by
someone else?
Can the speakers no yes no yes
change the events
or not?
Present simple or simple continuous simple continuous
continuous?

Concept checking questions:

 present simple or present continuous?

 past / present / future?
 is it a timetabled / fixed event or a diary event (with more flexibility)?
 can the speakers change the event themselves?
 did the speakers or sb else decide on these events?

Dictation – beep for verbs

1. _____ (I’m meeting) Pam for lunch.
2. The new term _____ (starts) on Sep 5th.
3. When _____ (are) Jack and Sally ____ (getting) married?
4. The meeting _____ (starts) at 2pm.
5. They____ _______ (‘re staying) in a hotel for 2 nights.
6. I____ ______ (‘m going) to a party on Saturday.

Answers to dialogue
a. does / arrives
b. are…doing / ‘m meeting
c. starts
d. having / ‘m having