teaching grammar: a new philosophy
DESCRIPTION
This is the summary of my paper. I have introduced myself and the mantra of my philosophy of languages. In mantra, I mean to say that if something has existence it must move and movement always creates a change in physical and situational position of the things. It means that our language is something working dynamically. Our language depends on our day to day activities. The motion is highlighted in this philosophy because many psychologists suggest that motion attracts concentration of the viewers and learners. I have presented some work of rural learners (in slides no.13 to 19) which proves that learners do not know the concepts of grammar even in their mother tongue. They make lot of errors even in simple sentences of grammar of L1 particularly in recognizing Subject, Object and Verb etc. The solution lies in the concept of motion that creates visibility of language phenomenon. In the end, I have presented 20 example sentences in L1 that creates sentence wise visibility and motion and ease the learners to understand the grammar concepts in their own language and then in English. Further, I have taught all ‘Passive Voice’ within half an hour with these 20 sentences in different schools because they have concept of motion and visibility. You can get these sentences (with guidance) in English from me at: [email protected]TRANSCRIPT
1
M. Iqbal grew up in a small village in the Punjab. He has been writing poetry since his school days in English as well as several other languages. His children's poems and songs have been published in a variety of different international teaching newsletters. He teaches English, Life Skills and Social Entrepreneurship for Young People in a vocational institute working for poverty alleviation and rehabilitation of the poor in Narowal, Pakistan. He is the member of a number of national and international associations and has presented his work at several of their national and international conferences. He is the founder of the Rural English Learners and Teachers Group in the Punjab, Pakistan.email: [email protected]
PRESENTER
(2).Mantra
• If I exist, I move and if I move I change or be changed
• • Things of the Universe.• Note: Our language always consists of two parts.• Existence 2.Movements • • How things exist? How things move?
Why this Philosophy?
1. Students can understand the concepts of grammar easily and clearly.
2. Language is presented more dynamically.
3. Students deepen their thinking how subject, verb and object etc work in a sentence.
4. Learners learn ‘passive voice’ easily and comfortably.
(3)
1.EXISTENCE 2.MOVEMENTS
What the things are /were?Where the things are/were?How the things are/were?When the things are/were?
How things move?
(4).Practical DivisonNon-Motional sentences Motional sentences
The flower is red She is beautiful girlThe bird is in the cage
It grows She smiles
It sings
Activity:Write ten sentences following the above-cited examples.
AS OBSERVATION SHOWS
1. Non-motional sentences are easier and do not have any problems in learning and teaching.
2. Motional sentences are always challengeable and daunting for learners because they always depends on ever changing day to day activities.
(7)• The concept of motionIf a body (Mass)moves from point A to point B. It is called
motion.
Result:The entity changes the situation,
position and feelings.
(Taxonomy)
Existence Movements
Noun Verb
Adjective Adverb
(9)
• How motion occurs?• 1)An entity consumes energy.(Subject)• 2)An action/change/move takes
place(Verb).• 3)An entity takes in energy.(Object).
10
(10) NEW DEFINATIONS
Noun is an entity that exist. Adjective explains how that entity exist.Subject is an entity that consumes energy actively in a sentence. Object is an entity that takes in energy and is made able to change its position or situation.Verb is a change and movement. Adverb is an entity that explains how change or movement takes place.
Subject vs Object
It is always active.It consumes energy.It take decisions.It creates motions.It changes the situation.
It is always passive.It absorbs energy.It depends on other’s decisions.It does not create motions.It does not change the situation.
(12)
Take a text: Read it carefully and underline three things exclusively in different sentences.
Example:(1) The entity that consumes energy(2) The entity that changes or moves(3) The entity that absorbs energy
(20) Personal Pronouns
NOMINATIVE POSSESSIVE ACCUSATIVE
FIRST PERSON
I
WE
MY
OUR
ME
US
SECOND PERSON
YOU YOUR YOU
THIRD PERSON
HE
SHE
THEY
IT
HIS
HER
THEIR
ITS
HIM
HER
THEM
IT
(21)To be (Helping Verbs)
column1 column2 column3 column4
Row 1 Is Was/were Been Being
Row 2 Am Was/were Been Being
Row3 Are Was/were Been Being
Row 4 Be Was/were Been Being
