A Teachers Grammar

A TEACHER'S GRAMMAR is a reference grammar for all teachers of English, particularly those entering the profession. It provides a concise survey of the major issues in English grammar.

"The Teacher's grammar of English enables English language teachers and teachers-in-training to fully understand and effectively teach English grammar. With comprehensive presentation of form, meaning, and usage, along with practical exercises and advice on teaaching difficult structures, it is both a complete grammar course and an essential reference text."--Back cover.

It is a refresher, a reference book and a workbook for teachers of English. It is also for teachers handling subjects other than English in schools and colleges. The book centres round the idea that grammar paves the way for smooth and accurate communication, and aims to strike a balance between conventional concepts and latter-day developments, and between descriptive grammar and grammar in use. Each chapter of the book begins by describing the forms of the grammatical class or category it deals with. It then presents a variety of illustrative examples. Finally, it explains the communicative uses of the forms and the situations in which they are typically used. A distinct feature of the book is that it deals with both spoken and written grammar, with greater emphasis on the written mode.

The Teacher's Grammar Book, Second Edition introduces the various grammars that inform writing instruction in our schools, and examines methods, strategies, and techniques that constitute best classroom practices for teaching grammar and writing. Designed for students who are preparing to become English or language arts teachers, as well as for credentialed teachers who want an easy-to-use guide to questions of methods, grammar, and teaching, this overview of basic English grammar includes the following major topics: a brief history of grammar, teaching grammar, grammar and writing, traditional grammar, transformational-generative grammar, cognitive grammar, dialects, black English, and Chicano English. New in the reorganized and fully updated Second Edition: *new chapter giving a brief history of grammar and grammar instruction; *new chapter on best practices--strategies and techniques that actually work; *expanded chapter on cognitive grammar--a topic not found in other texts of this nature; *expanded chapter on dialects; *summary and evaluation of the minimalist program (Noam Chomsky's most recent revision of transformational-generative grammar)--a topic unique among texts of this kind; and *reduced discussion of transformational grammar.

Recent SLA research recognizes the necessity of attention to grammar and demonstrates that form-focused instruction is especially effective when it is incorporated into a meaningful communicative context. Designed specifically for second-language teachers, this text identifies and explores the various options for integrating a focus on grammar and a focus on communication in classroom contexts and offers concrete examples of teaching activities for each option. Each chapter includes a description of the option, its theoretical and empirical background, examples of activities illustrating in a non-technical manner how it can be implemented in the classroom, questions for reflection, and a list of useful resources that teachers can consult for further information.

Teaching Grammar, Structure and Meaning introduces teachers to some basic ideas from the increasingly popular field of cognitive linguistics as a way of explaining and teaching key grammatical concepts. Particularly suitable for those teaching post-16 English Language, this book offers a methodology for teaching key aspects of linguistic form and an extensive set of learning activities. Written by an experienced linguist and teacher, this book contains: · an evaluation of current approaches to the teaching of grammar and linguistic form · a revised pedagogy based on principles from cognitive science and cognitive linguistics · a comprehensive set of activities and resources to support the teaching of key linguistic topics and text types · a detailed set of suggestions for further reading and a guide to available resources Arguing for the use of drama, role play, gesture, energy dynamics, and visual and spatial representations as ways of enabling students to understand grammatical features, this book explores and analyses language use in a range of text types, genres and contexts. This innovative approach to teaching aspects of grammar is aimed at English teachers, student teachers and teacher trainers.