4/14/2006

Should grammar be taught to young elementary age English language learners?


Language Acquisition vs. Language Learning

by Judie Haynes

Should grammar be taught to young elementary age English language learners? Learn what the difference is between language acquisition and language learning.

One of the questions I am most frequently asked is about teaching grammar rules to very young English language learners. Those of you who follow the "Ask Judie" bulletin board already know my answer to that question. I would not teach grammar out of context to young students. (I am asked for grammar lessons for 1st and 2nd graders!) Research has shown that "out of context" grammar drills do not work with students of any age. Teachers of English language learners should really be developing the oral communication, reading, vocabulary, and writing skills of their young students. The grammar will take care of itself. Read predictable books. Teach thematic units. Any mention of a grammar rule should be within the context of those texts.

Language acquisition vs. language learning

There is an important distinction made by linguists between language acquisition and language learning. Children acquire language through a subconscious process during which they are unaware of grammatical rules. This is similar to the way they acquire their first language. They get a feel for what is and what isn't�t correct. In order to acquire language, the learner needs a source of natural communication. The emphasis is on the text of the communication and not on the form. Young students who are in the process of acquiring English get plenty of in the job of practice. They readily acquire the language to communicate with classmates.

Language learning, on the other hand, is not communicative. It is the result of direct instruction in the rules of language. And it certainly is not an age-appropriate activity for your young learners. In language learning, students have conscious knowledge of the new language and can talk about that knowledge. They can fill in the blanks on a grammar page. Research has shown, however, that knowing grammar rules does not necessarily result in good speaking or writing A student who has memorized the rules of the language may be able to succeed on a standardized test of English language but may not be able to speak or write correctly.

這篇文章有明確的解答; 語言的學習與真正的語言習得之差異

我的問題:
請問依據作者兒童初學者是否要學文法呢?
請將看完本文的心得於comment 與大家分享

4 Comments:

At 14/4/06 12:34, Anonymous 匿名 said...

Grammar shouldn't be taught to young elementary age English language learners. It's more important to develope the oral communication, reading, vocabulary, and writing skills of young students than to teach english grammar for them.

9410173 Nancy

 
At 15/4/06 21:51, Anonymous 匿名 said...

I agreed with the opinion which was shown in the article. But creating an English speaking environment is not easy in school.

 
At 23/4/06 11:27, Anonymous 匿名 said...

依據作者兒童初學者是不用學文法的。
不過,我覺得可以因材施教。如果孩子學得來,也有興趣學,在不特別強調的原則下,還是可以教的!

 
At 24/4/06 21:30, Anonymous 匿名 said...

依據作者兒童初學者是沒有必要學文法的。
我也贊同上一篇匿名者的想法,如果孩子有興趣,或是資質不錯,是可以補充文法方面的概念的,這樣對學習者是有幫助的。
9410238 pinky

 

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