Grammar in the ESL Classroom - Guide For Preparing Your Own Material

Grammar seems to be dying a slow death in the ESL classroom. Many books are so focused on communication that grammar becomes an afterthought. To remedy this, I have become more and more reliant on material that I develop myself. Using grammar in the ESL classroom should not be neglected

Many ESL teachers do not feel comfortable making their own materials for a class. I really suggest you give it a try, as often the material you find never really suits the topic or more importantly the class you are teaching.

The important thing when creating your own material is to be focused on what you want to achieve. If you have a grammar point that you want to create material for, ensure you structure everything around it. However, variety is also important.

For each grammar point follow a consistent format:

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  Presentation of form. Always present the complete form, or formal rule, along with several examples for students to clearly see the model.
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  Presentation of function. Make sure you explain the function of the grammar point, or how it is used, along with additional examples for reinforcement.
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  Practice. Create short diverse exercises to practice form and function together.
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  Application. Students need to be able to apply the grammar point in open-ended, communicative activities that integrate all language skills.
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  Writing. Students should be able to use the grammar point to create accurate sentences.
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  Self-test. Students take a short test together to see what they learned. They compare their answers and explain to each other how they chose their answers.

These six steps will ensure you have a lesson that will work for you and your students in your classroom. Remember, grammar in the ESL classroom should be structured as interesting and fun. A rewarding experience for everybody.