Reflective Journal #4

I think it is important for students to know the grammar rules. Memorizing the rules is only the starting point of learning the grammar points. The students should be taught the formation of the target grammar structure. Then, they should be taught the meaning of the grammar structure. Lastly, they have to be given the opportunity to use the grammar structure.

Drilling is not effective in teaching grammar. It is because drilling focuses only on the form of a grammar structure. A lot of times, the grammar exercises drill students by having them write sentences using the same grammar structure. The students do not understand the meaning behind the sentences and they do not know how to use the grammar structure in real life context.

I prefer to have an inductive approach. It is because using examples can clearly show the students how a grammar structure is used. Teaching the rules can come later because students will be more interested to learn the grammar item if they know why they are learning it.

Teachers can make grammar teaching more interesting by designing interactive activities so that the students can apply the grammar items. I think students would be interested once they see the reason why they are learning.