Oh, Grammar...

I really enjoyed the reading for this week. I enjoyed it, I suppose, because I agreed with what the authors claimed. In Chapter one, Weaver discussed the issue of teachers taking extremes in the teaching of grammar. "English teachers have swung from teaching grammar out of a grammar book...to the opposite extreme of teaching almost nothing at all about grammar." It seems obvious, at least in my mind, the students simply cannot learn how to write using appropriate grammar if it taught only by reading from a textbook and doing a few exercises. However, a student does need to know a little about grammar, so cutting it completely out of the curriculum is no good either. No, grammar can only be taught through application. Students learn by doing. And not just once, students need to practice.

I love the idea of teaching grammar as a writing enhancer. Honestly, I think writing is the only medium where grammar really matters. The writing process is an excellent way to utilize the "practice, practice, practice" method. Students prewrite, proofread, draft, revise, and usually revise again. As a teacher, it is important to teach grammar as a way for students to improve their writing. Adding adjectives to give life to situations or objects, using a semi-colon to let their reader know that the sentence is still about the same thought...If they don't get it the first time, there is always the next draft or revision. I also appreciate that Weaver points out that correcting every mistake is not always helpful, but in some cases, it is detrimental to a student. Some mistakes are evidence that a student is learning a concept and trying it out; If you tell them they are wrong you will only discourage them from trying.

"There is no single variety of English that's appropriate for all purposes and situations." How true! This makes me think of our discussion from last class about language. Your use of language will always alter based on who it is you are talking or writing to, and there is nothing wrong with that. Using tech speak when online, speaking slang with friends, and addressing professionally a teacher or boss is expected and acceptable. The problem arises when those lines become blurred.