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Chapter 5: Grammar

Chapter 5: Grammar

pp. 97-121

Authors

, Michigan State University, , Universidad Andres Bello, Chile
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Extract

This chapter discusses different ways that grammar has been viewed, and answers questions such as: Is there always just one grammatical form that’s correct? and How do linguists and lay people think about grammar? The chapter reviews different ways of understanding and investigating grammar learning such as pedagogical grammar, systemic functional linguistics, contrastive analysis, CALF (complexity, accuracy, lexical complexity, and fluency), language-related episodes, and languaging. The chapter then explores several issues that are specific to grammar learning, such as rule-learning and developmental stages. In particular, it discusses processability theory, teachability theory, and communicative competence. The chapter continues by examining possible answers to the question What’s the best way to teach grammar? The chapter includes the traditional, explicit approach to grammar instruction, and continues with other approaches that are more communicative. Different approaches include proactive and reactive grammar teaching, isolated and integrated form-focused instruction, focused and unfocused tasks, and concept-based instruction.

Keywords

  • instructed second language acquisition (ISLA)
  • morphosyntax
  • interlanguage
  • pedagogical grammar
  • systemic functional linguistics
  • contrastive analysis
  • CALF
  • processability theory
  • teachability theory
  • communicative competence
  • languaging
  • concept-based instruction

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