Online TESOL Program

‐Module 6 ‐

Native English speakers don’t generally learn much grammar in school. Because of that, ordinary people don’t know about grammar topics well. This may seem strange, but remember that a language is learned the most quickly by simply communicating.When teaching grammar, you must always remember the reason your students are learning it. The reason is so that they can communicate better. Therefore, it is your job to show them how they can use grammar in their lives.

Thinking About Grammar

These are the 4 main steps in teaching grammar which you should memorize.1. Isolation of the grammar pointIntroduce your grammar point with a story or dialogue that has many examples of it. This will help your students to see how this grammar is used in real life.For this isolation, you will give your students a handout. Don’t forget to completely go over the meaning of your isolation. You should also use it when you are explaining the grammar. It will give your students many examples of what you are trying to teach.

Teaching Grammar (1)

Teaching Grammar (2)

2. ExplanationExplain the grammar point completely. Try to cover all aspects of the grammar point, making sure to answer any student questions. Use your board and organize your notes. Don’t simply photocopy the rules and give them to students.

3. Focused PracticeGive the students some exercises that practice using this grammar point. Help the students if necessary. If needed, answer any questions and even explain the grammar point again. You can simply photocopy these exercise from a textbook.

Teaching Grammar (3)

4. Communicative PracticeGive the students the opportunity to use the grammar point in a communicative activity. Emphasize that the students will now use the grammar point freely with realistic communication. Prepare materials or a handout for the students.

Example: Isolation (1)

Here is an example of a complete grammar lesson about “Tag Questions”.

1. Isolation: “The Blind Date”When teaching this lesson, read through the isolationwith students to ensure that everyone understands.

The Blind Date

Julie: Hi…Derek? Are you Derek?Derek: Oh, hi…yes, I’m Derek. You’re Julie, aren’t you?Julie: Yes, I am. Nice to meet you.Derek: Nice to meet you too.Julie: So…uh…lovely weather, isn’t it?Derek: Yes, it sure is. It hasn’t rained much this winter, has it?

Julie: No, not much at all.Derek: Yeah…um….uh…Julie: So, I hear you like to play music. You don’t play in a rock

band, do you?Derek: No, I play the accordion.Julie: The accordion??? No way!! That’s hilarious…it’s not very

popular with the girls, is it?Derek: Haha… I know. Girls don’t like it too much. Anyways, I hear

you like dancing. You look like you’re in great shape. You’realso wearing dancing shoes. You’re a good dancer, aren’tyou?

Julie: Yeah, I’m pretty good.Derek: So, what kind of dancing do you do? Ballet? Ballroom? Tap?

Example: Isolation (2)

Julie: No, square dancing mostly.Derek: SQUARE DANCING? So you like the accordion, don’t you?Julie: Yes, actually I do.Derek: Wow! It looks like our friend Dave matched us well, doesn’t it?

I think this blind date is going to work out well. Don’t you?Julie: Yeah…definitely. Tee hee.

Example: Isolation (3)

Example: Explanation (1)

Basic grammar termsA tag questions is a statement followed by a mini question. The whole sentence is called a “tag question” and the mini question is called a “question tag”.We use tag questions at the end of statements to ask for confirmation. They mean something like “Am I right?” or “Do you agree?”

2. ExplanationThis explanation is taken from various sources. When you prepare an explanation, you must learn your topic and prepare your own notes, not just photocopy notes.

Example: Explanation (2)

Basic Structure

Positive Statement + Negative Tag

Negative Statement + Positive Tag

or

Example:1. You’re not tired, are you?2. He’s not angry, is it?3. It isn’t raining, is it?4. You don’t have any money, do you?5. You want some cake, don’t you?

Example: Explanation (3)

Some Special Cases1. I am right, aren’t I? (Am I not?)2. You have to go, don’t you? (You do have to go)3. I have been answering, haven’t I?

(use the first auxiliary)4. Nothing came in the mail, did it? (treat statements with nothing, nobody, etc. like negative statements)5. Let’s go, shall we? (let us)6. He’d better do it, hadn’t he?

(he had better – no auxiliary)

Example: Explanation (4)

Examples in PracticeNotice that we often use tag questions to ask for information of help starting with a negative statement. This is a very friendly and polite way of making a request.- Examples1) Where is the police station? (not polite)2) Do you know where the police station is?

(a little more polite)3) You wouldn’t know where the police station is, would

you? (very polite)

Example: Explanation (5)

IntonationWe can change the meaning of a tag question by altering the musical pitch of our voice. With rising intonation, it sounds like a real question. But if our intonation falls, it sounds more like a statement that doesn’t need an answer.E.g. It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it? ↗ (Asking for answer)

It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it? ↘ (No answer required)

Example: Explanation (6)

Answers to Tag QuestionsIn some languages, an opposite system of answering is used, and non-native speakers sometimes answer in the wrong way. This can lead to a lot of confusion.For example:1.Snow is white, isn’t it? (Yes, it is.)2.Snow isn’t white, is it? (Yes, it is.)3.Snow is black, isn’t it? (No, it isn’t.)4.Snow isn’t black, is it? (No, it isn’t.)In some languages, people answer a question like “snow isn’t black, is it?” with “yes” (meaning “yes, I agree with you”). This is the wrong answer in English.

Example: Focused Practice (1)

Please complete the tag questions.1. He’s still sleeping, ( )?2. You do go to school, ( )?3. Let’s go for a walk, ( )?4. We won’t be late, ( )?5. Nobody called, ( )?6. They will wash the car, ( )?7. We must lock doors, ( )?8. I’m correct, ( )?

3. Focused PracticeThe exercises practice both forming and answering tag questions. These exercises are useful practice.

Example: Focused Practice (2)

Please answer the following questions.1. The moon goes round the earth, doesn’t it?2. The earth is bigger than the moon, isn’t it?3. The earth is bigger than the sun, isn’t it?4. Children have too much energy, don’t they?5. Elephants live in England, don’t they?6. Men don’t have babies, do they?7. The alphabet doesn’t have 40 letters, does it?8. You aren’t rich, are you?9. You are tired, aren’t you?10. Rabbits are cute, aren’t they?

Example: Communicative Practice (1)

4. Communicative PracticeHere is a handout with many sentences with blanks for the students to fill in. 1) Get the students to quickly fill in their own sheet

without seeing classmates’ papers.2) Collect all of the papers and divide the class into

two teams, team “A” and team “B”.3) Invite a student from team “A” up to the front of the

class (let’s assume her name is “Sarah”).4) Give Sarah’s paper to the rest of her team mates for

10 seconds to read her paper and memorize her answer.

Example: Communicative Practice (2)

5) After 10 seconds, return the paper to Sarah.6) Have her team mates use tag questions to ask

about the answers she wrote. For example, they may say “you have 7 letters in your name, don’t you?”

7) If they are correct, their team gets one point. If not, no point.

8) When they can’t remember any more information on Sarah’s paper, they are finished.

9) Do the same things with team B in turn.10) Do this repeatedly until all the students have a

chance to came to the front.

Handout1. My name has ( ) letters.2. My favorite color is ( ).3. I have ( ) brothers and sisters.4. My favorite food is ( ).5. I don’t like to eat ( ).6. I ate ( ) for dinner last night.7. I ate ( ) for breakfast.8. I have ( ) in my pocket.9. My favorite movie is ( ).10. I hate ( ).11. I love ( ).12.My best friend’s name is ( ).

Example: Communicative Practice (3)

Choosing Grammar Topics (1)

Following is common topics in an English class.

Topic ExampleConditional 1 If It rains, the street will get wet.Conditional 2 If I were you, I would quit smoking.Conditional 3 If I had been on time, I would have caught

the busCount/Non-CountNouns

I have some water, a few apples, and a little juice.

Comparing Two Tenses

‘I have been there.’ vs ‘I went there last year.’

Yes/No questions Do you like cake? / Are you hungry?Prepositions in / at / on / to / with / by / underArticles a / an / the

Choosing Grammar Topics (2)

There are many more topics that you can do with your students. However, these are quite popular.Many of oversea students spend a lot of time studying the passive voice. However, in English, we rarely use the passive voice. The passive voice is a topic that should not be focused on too much.

Topic ExampleConjunctions and / but / so / if / then / becauseSubject-Verb Agreement

Someone likes/likeThe group is/are

Clauses The man who is over there is my uncle.Comparatives / Superlatives

My car is better than your car.My car is the best.

Congratulations! You have successfully completed Module 6.