The Importance of Grammar

[myprofe]

Most people, when they hear the word grammar, think of lots of useless, boring rules that they were forced to learn in school. It is precisely this attitude that has brought about the elimination of grammar in today’s second language classes. In its place the experts in the business of selling second language courses have given us the communicative method in which they guarantee that the students, with little or no effort, will begin to speak the target language from day one. In this method the students are taught sets of phrases corresponding to common everyday situations and, under the direction of the teacher, are carefully guided through simulated conversations. The false sense of achievement is astounding. They have learned what to say but have no idea how or why. Reality hits when the students, after having paid for the course, have to defend themselves out in the real world.
Gordon
www.myprofe.com/tandem

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by myprofe

Most people, when they hear the word grammar, think of lots of useless, boring rules that they were forced to learn in school. It is precisely this attitude that has brought about the elimination of grammar in today’s second language classes. In its place the experts in the business of selling second language courses have given us the communicative method in which they guarantee that the students, with little or no effort, will begin to speak the target language from day one. In this method the students are taught sets of phrases corresponding to common everyday situations and, under the direction of the teacher, are carefully guided through simulated conversations. The false sense of achievement is astounding. They have learned what to say but have no idea how or why. Reality hits when the students, after having paid for the course, have to defend themselves out in the real world.
Gordon
www.myprofe.com/tandem

Sadly enough, it's all too true. Mind you, there's one point that needs further clarification, especially with regards to EFL:

In its place the experts in the business of selling second language courses

Within the EFL field, the 'experts' (i.e., publishers) cater to client needs, and it's the client who buys the books. So, you see, no matter what we, the language providers say or do in our classrooms, it's the client (i.e., the student) who has final say. Moreover, where did the client even get the idea that s/he could learn a whole 'nother language in a week/month or half-year? Well, the other experts of course--the school owners. In short, English (EFL) is big business $$. It's no longer an academic subject; It's edutainME. And, why not? Why not edutain the clients? The fees they pay justify it, some may say. When money is taken out of the equation, grammar will find its way back in.

All the best, :D

Originally Posted by Casiopea

Sadly enough, it's all too true. Mind you, there's one point that needs further clarification, especially with regards to EFL:

Within the EFL field, the 'experts' (i.e., publishers) cater to client needs, and it's the client who buys the books. So, you see, no matter what we, the language providers say or do in our classrooms, it's the client (i.e., the student) who has final say. Moreover, where did the client even get the idea that s/he could learn a whole 'nother language in a week/month or half-year? Well, the other experts of course--the school owners. In short, English (EFL) is big business $$. It's no longer an academic subject; It's edutainME. And, why not? Why not edutain the clients? The fees they pay justify it, some may say. When money is taken out of the equation, grammar will find its way back in.

All the best, :D

Cas, this is a great new word-formation, "edutain". But nevertheless you are right, the subject of English language itself has be come a business for the money makers, and that's sad indeed. As for myself, I want to say that I've learned English myself, still I know that it's not enough. As in every language, if you want to know language as well as anything else you have to try it hard, very hard. Because learning all these rules and new words, it indeed requires a lot of patience and desire, otherwise everything will be in vain. So if one really wants to know language well (be it French, Spanish or German, whatever), try your best to learn it well.
:wink: