Methods of Teaching Grammar

Method Definition Role of the Teacher Strengths Weaknesses Sample Techniques Sample Situations
- Give students a sentence to diagram
- When teaching students about
- Can help students to visualize and have them work on it individually or
the different parts of speech and
A method of teaching The teacher introduces the and understand the structure of in pairs.
how they relate to each other.
grammar that involves symbols and lines used in sentences. - Can be time-consuming. - Use a diagrammed sentence as a
Diagramming - When teaching students about
visually representing the diagramming, and then guides - Can help students to identify and - Can be difficult for some model to teach a new grammar
Sentences complex sentence structures.
structure of sentences students in diagramming correct grammatical errors. students to learn. concept.
- When helping students to
using symbols and lines. sentences. - Can be a useful tool for teaching - Have students create their own
identify and correct grammatical
complex grammar concepts. diagrammed sentences to practice a
errors.
grammar concept.
- Can help students to see how - Have students write a short story or
- When teaching students about a
The teacher provides students grammar is used in real-world essay using a specific grammar
A method of teaching - Can be time-consuming. - new grammar concept. - When
with opportunities to write using communication. - Can help concept. - Give students feedback on
Learning through grammar that focuses on Can be difficult to assess helping students to improve their
different grammar concepts, and students to develop their writing their writing, focusing on their use of
Writing using grammar in the students' grammar knowledge writing skills. - When preparing
then gives feedback on their skills. - Can be a more engaging grammar. - Have students revise and
context of writing. in this context. students for high-stakes writing
writing. and motivating way to teach edit their writing to improve their
assessments.
grammar. grammar.
- Can be boring and
disengaging for some
A method of teaching The teacher explains the - Is a clear and straightforward - Give students a clear explanation of - When teaching students about a
students.
grammar that involves grammar rules and then gives way to teach grammar rules. the grammar rule. new grammar rule.
- Can lead to students simply
presenting a grammar rule students examples of how to use - Can be helpful for students who - Provide students with examples of - When teaching students about
Deductive Teaching memorizing rules without
and then providing it. The teacher may also provide learn best by memorizing rules. how to use the rule. basic grammar concepts.
understanding them.
examples of how to use students with opportunities to - Is often used in textbooks and - Give students opportunities to practice - When preparing students for
- May not be effective for
the rule. practice using the rule. other instructional materials. using the rule. standardized tests.
teaching all grammar
concepts.
- Give students a set of examples of a
A method of teaching The teacher gives students - Can be time-consuming. - When teaching students about
- Can help students to develop grammar concept and ask them to
grammar that involves examples of a grammar concept - Can be difficult for some more complex grammar concepts.
their critical thinking skills. identify the pattern.
presenting students with and then asks them to identify students to discover the rule - When teaching students who
- Can help students to understand - Provide students with scaffolding or
Inductive Teaching examples of a grammar the pattern. The teacher may on their own. learn best by discovering things on
grammar concepts more deeply. guidance to help them discover the
concept and then having also provide students with - May not be effective for their own.
- Can be more engaging and rule.
them discover the rule on scaffolding or guidance to help teaching all grammar - When creating a more student-
motivating for some students. - Have students explain the rule in their
their own. them discover the rule. concepts. centered learning environment.
own words.
- Can be more engaging and
- When teaching any grammar
A method of teaching motivating for students. - Can help
The teacher leads students in - Can be time-consuming. - Play grammar games. concept.
grammar that involves students to learn grammar
activities and games that are - Can be difficult to assess - Do grammar-based activities. - When reviewing grammar
Interactive Teaching using activities and games concepts through hands-on
designed to help them learn and students' grammar knowledge - Use grammar-related quizzes and concepts.
to help students learn activities. - Can help students to
practice grammar concepts. in this context. puzzles. - When preparing students for
grammar concepts. see how grammar is used in real-
high-stakes grammar tests.
world communication.
This approach focuses on The teacher acts as a facilitator, * Focuses on real-world * Can be challenging to * Use authentic texts and materials * * Teaching a group of learners how
Functional-Notional
the communicative helping learners to discover and communication * Is relevant to implement * May require more Provide opportunities for learners to to use the present tense to ask
Approach
functions of language, use grammar for communicative learners' needs * Promotes time and preparation practice communicative functions * and answer questions in a job
 rather than the purposes. learner autonomy Encourage learners to reflect on their interview * Helping learners to
grammatical structures grammar use write a persuasive essay using the
themselves. Learners are correct verb tenses and modal
taught how to use verbs
grammar to express
different meanings and
functions in different
contexts.
This approach involves
teaching grammar in the
* Teaching a group of learners how
context of real-world * Makes grammar learning more
The teacher sets up and * Can be time-consuming to to use the past tense to describe a
situations. Learners are meaningful and engaging * Helps
Situational manages situational contexts, set up and manage situational * Role-playing activities * Simulations * personal experience * Helping
presented with realistic learners to see how grammar is
Contexts and provides feedback to contexts * May not be suitable Problem-solving tasks learners to write a complaint letter
scenarios and asked to used in real life * Promotes
learners on their grammar use. for all learners using the correct grammar and
use the appropriate learner autonomy
tone
grammar to communicate
effectively.
This approach involves
using authentic texts,
stories, songs, and
The teacher selects appropriate * Makes grammar learning more * Teaching a group of learners how
rhymes to teach grammar. * Can be time-consuming to
Using Texts, texts, stories, songs, and interesting and engaging * * Reading comprehension activities * to use the passive voice by
Learners are exposed to find and prepare appropriate
Stories, Songs, and rhymes, and leads learners in Exposes learners to a variety of Grammar focus exercises * Creative analyzing a news article * Helping
different types of language materials * May not be
Rhymes activities that help them to focus language uses * Promotes learner writing activities learners to write a poem using a
use and are encouraged suitable for all learners
on the target grammar. autonomy variety of verb tenses
to analyze and use the
grammar they see and
hear.
This approach is a
traditional method of
teaching grammar. It
involves three stages:
presentation, practice, and
production. In the
* Introducing the present tense by
presentation stage, the * Teaching a group of learners how
providing examples and explanations *
teacher introduces the The teacher plays a central role * Is a well-structured and * Can be seen as teacher- to use the past perfect tense to
Presentation, Having learners complete exercises to
target grammar structure in the PPP approach, delivering organized approach * Provides centered * May not be as write a historical narrative *
Practice, practice using the present tense in
and provides examples. In instruction and providing clear instruction and practice engaging or meaningful as Helping learners to give a
Production (PPP) different contexts * Asking learners to
the practice stage, feedback to learners. opportunities other approaches presentation about their favorite
write a paragraph about their daily
learners complete movie using the future tense
routine using the present tense
activities to practice using
the target grammar. In the
production stage, learners
use the target grammar in
their own writing and
speaking.