A Discovery Approach to

Teaching Grammar

Brahim ELOUAFI
ELT Supervisor
Rabat- Sale- Kenitra
 Outline

1. Different models of teaching grammar,

2. The OHE discovery approach,
3. The stages of OHE,
4. Workshop : a demonstration lessson.
5. Reflection.
 A quote

“Grammar is not implanted from outside;

encounter
rather it emerges out of the………………
between a pattern-hungry brain and a language-
rich…………………..….” environment

Scott Thornbury (2001: 52)

 TWO core Approaches to teaching grammar

Deductive approach Inductive approach

Tr explains the Lrs study the input

rule ,then gives sampling the target
exercises to apply grammatical strucure. Lrs
and consolidate the find the rule with the Tr’s
rule. guidance.
Frameworks for TEACHING GRAMMAR

• PPP: Presentation, Practice, Production

( Personalisation),
• XXX (X): eXplain, eXample, eXercise
( eXamination),
• TTT: Test, Teach, Test,
Frameworks for TEACHING GRAMMAR

• ESA: Engage, Study, Activate,

• TBL: Task Based Learning,
• OHE: Observing, Hypothesizing,
Experimenting,
• ECRIF: Encounter, Clarify, Remember,
Internalize, Fluent use.
 OHE: a discovery model
Michael Lewis(1993)

Observ H yp o
e thes
ize

Exp
er imen
t
Principles for discovery approach
• OHE is also called text-based approach to
teaching grammar,
• Lrs play an active role of a scientist,
• Lrs are engaged in some sort of collaborative
learning,
Principles for discovery approach
• Lrs promote effective learning strategies/
autonomous learning
• Lrs are required to use both inductive and
deductive reasoning,
• Lrs are encouraged to use language
communicatively.
What is supposed to be done at each stage of
OHE
OBSERVATION(consciousness-
raising/Ellis(2002) )
• A rich context :Lge is meaningful, authentic
& appropriate,
• Lrs are asked to process for meaning of the
text(an easy one) ,
• Once the Lrs notice the target structure, they
feel there is a gap,
What is supposed to be done at each stage of
OHE
• The isolation of the target structure for
analysis,
• Through some concept check questions, Lrs
are driven to get an idea about form,
meaning and use of the target
structure(pronunciation could be checked in
need be ).
 What is supposed to be done at each stage of
OHE

HYPOTHESIZING
• Some Lrs might have already started
formulating hypotheses during Observation
stage,
• Lrs are urged to compare the target structure
with other structures,
 What is supposed to be done at each stage of
OHE

HYPOTHESIZING
• Lrs are provided with practice exercises where
they formulate hypotheses about the
form ,meaning and the use of the target
structure,
• Lrs are invited to make first attempts in using
the target structure via some guided practice
exercises.
EXPERIMENTING
• If the Lrs were successful in making
scientific observations and in coming up
with the correct hypotheses, NOW is the
time to use the target structure in
meaningfully and accurately in simulations,
• Tr provides a situation /context where Lrs
are to use the target structure without being
told to.
EXPERIMENTING
• Should some Lrs make mistakes about the
accurate and appropriate use of the target
structure, take them back to revisit their
hypotheses.
Thank you!