How to Teach Grammar Effectively; Tips!

15 Tips! 1. Concept Checking Questions (CCQs)

Concept checking question is designed to check for
understanding of grammar, vocabulary,… etc. and for anytime
a teacher wants to ask, ‘Do you understand?’”A big no-no in
any classroom should be “Do you understand?” or any variant
thereof for three simple reasons:Students may think they
understand and therefore answer “yes;”Some students are too
shy to answer “no.”It is a lazy way to “check” understanding
without actually doing so.

16 Tips! There are a few rules about using CCQs:

Always prepare these in advance.The questions need to be
simple and require closed-ended answers.CCQs should never
be directed to the whole class or just the top students..New
language or vocabulary that students are not familiar with
should not be added to the CCQs.

17 Tips! 2. Break your grammar lesson into chunks

You should break up the grammar that you need to teach. You
need to introduce and explain the grammar. Also, you need to
show how it can be used in a context, then give the students
an activity or two to practice the target language..One of the
key things with teaching grammar is preparation
beforehand.Choose examples that clearly reinforce the target
language, and if there is time at the end of the lesson, then
briefly talk about the exceptions and save it for the next
lesson (or review lesson).

18 Tips! Steps to follow to break up the grammar into

manageable pieces:
Use the white board to write down the grammar rule.Explain
the grammar and point out why and when we use it.Use
contextual oral and written examples that will target both
auditory and visual learning styles.Ask the students to give
you some additional examples.Point out the exceptions to the
grammar rule if applicable.

19 Tips! 3. Start from the Beginning

This one is really important. You need to make sure that your
students have a solid understanding of the basics before you
move to more abstract concepts.

20 Tips! 4. Motivating Your Students

If your students don’t already have a natural interest in
something, they need to see why learning about it is
necessary.You can engage your students in a discussion of
whether or not grammar matters and why.Older students are
closer to the “real world” and they have an interest in their
future careers. Because of that, you could have a discussion
about grammar as it relates to job prospects.