I think that SWE grammar should be taught in the classroom, but not in the traditional form. As a high school student, the last thing I wanted to learn about was grammar. Remembering this, I would not want to put my students through he same torture. So, when and if I teach grammar, it will be on a different basis. First of all, I think the students need to have a particular need or interest for the grammar instruction to be successful. For example, if my students were showing in their writing that they did not understand some form of punctuation, I would take some time to address this, but not weeks on end. Also, if a student had a specific question about grammar I would be more than happy to assist them.
It would be going against my own beliefs to teach a structured grammar course to high school students. I don't think they get everything out of the instruction that they could because they are not interested in it. So, if I teach, I will focus on dragging (forcing) students into a love of the English language. Then if they have enough sense to become English majors, Dr. Benton can straighten out all the bad habits I taught them.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
This is a good idea. I didnt learn a lot of grammar in high school. I actually learned it in elementary school.
That's a really good point about students not being interested enough in grammar to learn it. I was the same way in high school and many of my teachers dragged the entire class through a grammar lesson which never turned out to be productive. I guess it's just one of those subjects that is pretty much boring to everyone.
This is a good approach, but do you think that college is too late for students to learn the doctrines of grammar? There have been some studies that have found that there is a period before puberty when individuals are better able to learn grammar.
KB- I don't think that college is too late. In high school the students need to gain an appreciation for the English language and then if they follow their interest, they can pursue it in college. I think that in depth learning of grammar should take place in college, but if grammar is taught in high school, it should be a general overview, giving students the basics.
Post a Comment