30-Hour Advanced Grammar for English Teachers

There are many methods of English grammar teaching. These include: Inductive Teaching – presenting learners with several examples of grammar concepts, with little or no explanation. The emphasis is on the learner to recognize and understand the rule featured. Deductive Teaching – an in-depth explanation is given to learners by teachers before putting the theory into practice. Interactive Teaching – perfect for kinesthetic learners, this method involves the use of games and props to bring action to the grammatical concept in question. Diagramming Sentences – effective for visual learners, this process includes visually mapping sentence structures. Learning through Writing – learners are encouraged to read externally to recognise grammar rules in articles and books etc.

A deductive method involves learners being given an in-depth explanation of the grammar rule theory by the teacher, which is then applied to specific examples and the learning is reinforced through practice and sample exercises. An inductive approach by contrast involves the learners recognizing, detecting, or spotting patterns and figuring out a ‘rule' for themselves before they put that concept into practice.

Under the communicative teaching approach, teaching grammar in the PPP model involves three key stages: Presentation – teacher presents the target language Practice – learners communicate the language in a controlled practice activity Production – learners use the target language more freely and in a personalized way

Grammar is a vital part of language learning and should be considered important. It’s worth noting that grammar is a challenge for learners and teachers alike at times. Understanding grammar is a complex part of gaining English fluency. Teachers should aim to make grammar tuition as engaging and enjoyable as possible for learners. Some teaching roles are purely based on conversational lessons, however you, as the teacher must have a strong grasp of word formation, phonology and the parts of speech to be as effective as possible.

Typically the parts of speech to teach first are nouns and verbs. The simple tense is also a good jumping off point. Young learners, for example, can easily master basic grammar concepts if it is presented in a simplified order, with plenty of practice.

There are no prerequisite qualifications to become an ESL grammar teacher, however you should hold an internationally recognised TEFL qualification and have some teaching experience. Taking a professional development course in teaching grammar will help you understand how to be most successful at educating your grammar-focused class.

Topics of importance in English grammar include the 8 parts of speech: Nouns Pronouns Verbs Adjectives Adverbs Prepositions Conjunctions Interjections Alongside these, articles, question formation, subject-verb agreement rules and conditionals are also important grammar components to consider.

9 of the best ESL grammar books for English teachers are: How to Teach Grammar – Scott Thornbury A Practical English Grammar – A. J. Thomson Practical English Usage – Michael Swan English Grammar in Use – Raymond Murphy The Teacher's Grammar of English: A Course Book and Reference Guide (with answers) – Ron Cowan English Grammar For Dummies – Geraldine Woods The Only Grammar Book You'll Ever Need: A One-Stop Source for Every Writing Assignment – Susan Thurman Understanding and Using English Grammar Workbook – Betty Schrampfer Azar