
Interested in Language
I'm not an English native speaker. My first time contacting a few Australians surprised me. Neither could I nor they understand each other. I supposed they must speak the real and correct English and I didn't. But I had got really good marks and certificates in English in school. What's wrong with my English? Out of frustration, I started to practice new type of learning. I avoided teaching materials that were designed only for language learners, and only watched videos and read articles that were not intended for language teaching. That way, despite the fact that I am still unable to speak or write something sounding natural to the native speakers, I have really improved my English.
My personal experience makes me believe that a language learner needs both disciplined teaching like the way school teachers do and learning what people actually say (and do) in real life. A language could be a big family of many members.
Not a professional teacher
How much speaking practice did you get at school? It can be an issue where grammar is favoured over communication.
Little.
It's a serious problem.It can be an issue where grammar is favoured over communication.
And, what made things worse was the fact that most of the English teachers did not speak real English. They spoke English words + grammatical rules, which some people call "classroom English".
I think what we call grammar (rules) is a small part of real grammar. The expressions (what to say to express what) are real grammar, for if you express in a wrong way, even if it is correct by grammar (rules), it's hard for people to get what you mean.
You can certainly say something that is grammatical but makes no sense.
Most native speakers rarely talk about grammar.(I don't except for this website.)
Not a professional teacher