9/1/22

Recommended
texts
Language and grammar Accessible online through
the library. Suggested
chapters are listed for each
session.
What knowledge about language do people have?
Why do we need to teach language?
What happened to the teaching of grammar?

Session 1a
LST6281 2

1 2

Overview of class topics Unit outcomes

How does language work? By taking this class, you will be able to:
• identify the main areas of linguistic
Different types of texts
inquiry, and conduct analysis within
Language and situation them
• use a range of technological tools to
Levels of language meet the needs of students of English
Writing systems • improve your knowledge about
language (KAL)
• apply that knowledge to your
language teaching

3 4

3 4

Why teach about language? What is grammar?

We need to understand grammar in two ways:
Discuss:
How confident do you feel about your 1. Grammar in the broad sense
Getting the words in the right order
grammar knowledge?
I love the smell of linguistics in the
And how did you get it?
Should language and grammar be morning.
*Smell I the linguistics love morning
taught?
the of in.
If so, what aspects of language and
grammar?
What will a knowledge of language do
for students? 5 6

5 6

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Grammar in the broad sense What is grammar?

Do we need to understand word order (syntax)? 2. Grammar in the narrow sense
How important is word order in English? The conventions of writing:
Do 1st language and multilingual speakers have spelling, punctuation, confusable
different needs? words.
How will an understanding of word order help your Understanding appropriateness:
students? how language varies according to
the purpose and audience.
Being able to code-switch.

7 8

7 8

Grammar in the narrow sense Outcomes

People may not feel comfortable with their level of
explicit grammatical knowledge, even though they have a If you have followed this lecture, you
lot of implicit grammatical knowledge, and can should be able to:
communicate effectively.
• Explain what grammar is
People may not be good at code-switching or • Explain why it is useful for
choosing the appropriate language/variety for the situation. your students to have an
People have a lot of unexamined language attitudes: explicit knowledge of how
language policing, language discrimination, language works
language ideology Any questions or comments?
9 10

9 10