St.

Francis Xavier College

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College of Teacher Education

Rules for Teaching and

Assessment of Grammar
This lesson explores the various considerations in teaching

grammar. It introduces the rules, not of grammar, but of

teaching grammar.

LESSON 3 WEEK 3

Teaching & Assessment of Grammar (EL 108)

Eliakim A. Balolot, LPT, Associate Instructor

eabalolot@sfxc.edu.ph 09515579351
 How did your English teachers

teach grammar? Was it easy to

understand? Why or why not?

Teaching & Assessment of Grammar

Rules of Teaching Grammar
 As a student, how would you
want your grammar lessons to be
taught?

Teaching & Assessment of Grammar

Rules of Teaching Grammar
 As a TEACHER...
1. How will you make the complexity
of learning English simple?

2. How do you create a learning

environment where students learn
grammar without burnout?

3. How can you make it relevant?

 RULES OF
CONTEXT. USE.

TEACHING
ECONOMY. RELEVANCE.

GRAMMAR
NURTURE. APPROPRIACY.

By: Scott Thornbury

 RULE OF

CONTEXT
DEFINITION

Teaching grammar in context

means that the lessons are

not taught as stand alone

concepts but are integrated

into varied situations and any

fields of study.
- Scott Thornbury (2004)
1. Language learning
does not necessarily

guarantee language
skills.

2. Context provides

avenue not just to

WHY Rule of Context in

learn grammar rules

Grammar Teaching?
but for meaning-

making. By: Scott Thornbury

3. Every individual is

creative and has rich

experiences, thus

should be given the

opportunity to utilize

these through real-

world type situations

in which context is a
WHY Rule of Context in

Grammar Teaching?
major consideration.
By: Scott Thornbury
 Give real world scenarios and

examples where grammar is used.

Encourage interaction rather than

spending more time answering

HOW: Rule of Context

written exercises and worksheets.
in Grammar Teaching?
By: Scott Thornbury
Use literary pieces such as short

stories, poems, songs and authentic

materials as a springboard in

teaching grammatical concepts.

RULE OF

USE DEFINITION

The rule of use in teaching

grammar reminds language

teachers to teach grammar for

communication's sake as

memorizing rules don't

guarantee language

production.
- Scott Thornbury (2004)
1. Students are able to

appreciate what they

are learning if they

see how language

works and is used in

real context.
2. Language

knowledge is not
WHY Rule of Use in

equal to language
Grammar Teaching?
production. By: Scott Thornbury
3. The primary goal of

teaching English is to

help Filipino students

acquire the

necessary skills for

listening, speaking,

reading, and writing

which enable them to

WHY Rule of Use in

use the language for

Grammar Teaching?
communication.
By: Scott Thornbury
 Provide for authentic samples of

language use anchoring on

student's context.

Provide opportunities for students

to share insights and ideas in

HOW: Rule of Use in

class and give helpful feedback.
Grammar Teaching?
By: Scott Thornbury
Avoid grammar-based approaches

and employ effective

communicative approaches.
 RULE OF

ECONOMY
DEFINITION

The rule of economy explains

that teachers provide

manageable and

comprehensible input and

allocate enough time for

language use and practice.

- Scott Thornbury (2004)

1. Students who are at

the intermediate level

may need more

opportunities for

practice rather than

presentation of rules.

2. Just studying

WHY Rule of Economy

grammar will not in

in Grammar Teaching?
itself enable you to

use it. By: Scott Thornbury

3. Providing for more

and more input may

still not be sufficient,

for input should be

"comprehensible".

Thus, a content-

jampacked syllabus

does not necessarily

WHY Rule of Economy

guarantee language
in Grammar Teaching?
acquisition.
By: Scott Thornbury
 Plan your lessons well. Start where

your students' language learning

level is.

Be clear with your lesson goals so

that the learning experience will

HOW: Rule of Economy

become meaningful.
in Grammar Teaching?
By: Scott Thornbury
Use Graphic Organizers such as

charts, concept maps, mind maps,

etc. to simplify complex

information.
 RULE OF

RELEVANCE
DEFINITION

The rule of relevance tells that

learning experiences should be

directly applicable to the

personal aspirations, interests

or cultural experiences of

students.
- Scott Thornbury (2004)
Relevant, meaningful

activities that both

engage students

emotionally and

connect with what

they already know

are what help build

neural connections
WHY Rule of Relevance

and long-term
in Grammar Teaching?
memory stage.
By: Scott Thornbury
 Students become

more interested to

learn if they see the

importance and

connection of the

concepts taught in

the classroom to their

WHY Rule of Relevance

real-life experiences.
in Grammar Teaching?

By: Scott Thornbury

 Let students experience authentic
use of the language. You may also

invite speakers who have good

command of the language.

Provide oppportunities for multi-

layered projects like those that

HOW: Rule of Relevance

involve research, community

in Grammar Teaching? involvement, and language

immersion.
By: Scott Thornbury

Anchor your lessons on real-world

problems to let students see

meaningful connections.
RULE OF

NURTURE
DEFINITION
As cliché as it may sound,

teachers create significant

impact on students' lives.

Therefore, teachers need to be

strategic in cultivating positive

and healthy learning

environment.

- Scott Thornbury (2004)

A teacher who builds

positive relationships

with students

decreases the

affective filter or level

of discomfort in the

classroom and

WHY Rule of Nurture in

students perform
Grammar Teaching?
better.
By: Scott Thornbury
 Students tend to

withdraw and lose

interest in learning if

the classroom does

not reinforce self-

esteem. Reinforcing

self-esteem is

WHY Rule of Nurture in

associated with
Grammar Teaching?
increased motivation.
By: Scott Thornbury
 Get to know your students and

allow them to know you as well.

Provide constructive feedback

and allow students to learn from

their mistakes. Don't judge.

HOW: Rule of Nurture in

Grammar Teaching?
Employ

By: Scott Thornbury

Suggestopedia/Desuggestoped

ia by Georgi Lozanov on

imploring relaxing elements

like music, arts, etc.

 RULE OF

APPROPRIACY
DEFINITION

No two students are alike.

Students vary in age,

proficiency level, learning

needs, interests, expectations,

skills, learning styles, beliefs,

attitudes and values.

- Scott Thornbury (2004)

 Regardless of how

diverse the classroom

is, students should be

given an equal

opportunity to learn

and achieve their

goals. The teaching-

learning process
WHY Rule of Nurture in

should be student-
Grammar Teaching?
centered.
By: Scott Thornbury
 Teachers need to

evaluate what

students really need

to learn in terms of

content and skill and

design classroom

activities suited to

WHY Rule of Nurture in

their specific needs.

Grammar Teaching?

By: Scott Thornbury

 GUIDE QUESTIONS IN

APPROPRIATE GRAMMAR

TEACHING

1. What do they already know?

2. What do they need to know

immediately?

3. What do they need to know

in the future?
 Teachers may conduct needs

analysis and/or diagnostic exam.

Talk to your students and let them

share their language learning

challenges and how they want to

HOW: Rule of

be supported.
Appropriacy in

Grammar Teaching?
Determine your students'

By: Scott Thornbury

learning styles, previous

learning experiences and

present expectations.
 St. Francis Xavier College
Home Discussion FLA Contact
College of Teacher Education

Rules for Teaching and

Assessment of Grammart
Lecture discussion with the important terminology

associated with the Teaching and

Assessment of Grammar.

UNIT TWO WEEK 2

Teaching & Assessment of Grammar (EL 108)

Eliakim A. Balolot, LPT, Associate Instructor

eabalolot@sfxc.edu.ph 09515579351