Many students find learning words like "noun",
"Present Perfect", "prediction" and "indirect
question" difficult and wonder if these kinds of words that are not part
of day to day conversation are worth learning. The answer is -sometimes. There
are good and bad reasons for introducing words like these into class, and it is
possible for a teacher to use them too much, too little or just the right
amount. If you think one of the "good reasons" below are true for
your class and your school, then you should probably trust your teacher and
learn the words whenever they come up. If more of the "bad reasons"
below are true, however, you might want to ask your teacher some questions or
think about changing classes.
Good reasons for
making students learn English grammar words
1. To explain grammar just in English
Many teachers and students believe that doing a class just
in English is a good way of increasing the amount of speaking and listening in
class and of teaching students to think in English without translating. For
grammar explanation, sometimes the easiest way of explaining something without
using other languages is through grammar terminology like "adverb" or
"passive voice"
2. To show connections between different
grammar points
The quickest way of showing the similarities and differences
between the "Present Continuous tense" and the "Past continuous
tense" is through using their names, which clearly show that both are
Continuous forms (= end with -ing) and that one uses the present of "to
be" (am/ is/ are) and the other uses the past (was/ were).
3. To save time
Although it is possible to explain grammar without using
words like "verb" and "adjective", it is usually quicker
with these words.
4. To make the explanation more accurate
Although a teacher could explain the meaning of
"will" with easy words like "future changes" or "tarot
cards", the more general and true explanation needs the more difficult
word "prediction".
5. So you can use English dictionaries and
grammar books
If you learn words like "article" and "conjunction" in
English, this will make it easier for you to understand grammar books and
dictionaries that are written just in English, and to find the right word or
grammar point to study. The reason for using books that don't have your own language
in them include trying to stop translating in your head, using books that your
teacher recommends, having a wider range of good quality books to choose from,
and preparing to study in an English speaking country.
6. To prepare you for study elsewhere
If you are going to study outside your own country it is
likely that someone will want to correct your English or ask you questions
about your own language. These are much easier to talk about if you know grammar
words in English.
7. To help you in tests
Although it is usually possible to answer a grammar test's
questions by looking at examples, it is much quicker and easier if you can
understand instructions like "fill each gap with the Present Perfect
Simple or Continuous"
8. So you can explain the grammar to your
classmates
One good way of teaching grammar is to ask the students what
they think first, as this gives the students more speaking and checks what they
already know. If you want to join in such discussions in English you will need
to know grammar words.
9. So you can talk about grammar in English in
pairs
This is another good way of students actively working out
the grammar for themselves and practicing their speaking in which knowing grammar
words will make using English easier.
10. So you know what you've been studying
If you know words like "adverbs of frequency" and "prepositions
of position" in English, you will easily be able to understand from the
contents page and unit headings of your textbook which language point you are
studying and why.
11. So you can ask your teacher questions
It is much easier and clearer to ask "Why does that noun end
with -tion?" than "Why does that word end with -tion?"
12. So you can tell your teacher what language
you need
If you can tell your teacher "I need more practice of the
Past Continuous" or "I always get the phrasal verb questions wrong in the test"
in English, this will help the teacher plan a class that is more useful for
you.
Bad reasons for
making students learn English grammar words
1. Because
the teacher doesn't know any other way to explain grammar
Using grammar words is usually the quickest and most
accurate way of explaining grammar, but it is not the only one. A good teacher
will explain the same grammar point in many different ways, some of which have
simpler language. If you don't understand the grammar words your teacher is
using and then the teacher uses more grammar words when they explain another
way, you could try asking the school for a translation of all the grammar words
you will hear in class or just ask your teacher "Can you explain that another
way?"
2. Because
they are secretly trying to teach you the grammar of your own language
In many school systems people learn more about grammar in
their foreign language classes than they do when studying their own language,
but English grammar should still be explained in the best way for that class
rather than to help with another language. If your teacher or school system
does this, the only solution is to study English in a different way elsewhere
as well.
