Teaching Grammar - Week 6 - Grammar and Discourse

Introduction: Hello and welcome to Week 6 of the course Teaching Grammar for the Licenciatura in English Teaching at ULACIT. In this class we will do several activities to explore the concept of discourse, differentiate it from syntax, and discuss the teaching technique of using discourse frames to help students develop their ability to communicate.

Today's Goals:

• Share they key ideas of your hot seat question in a 90 second impromptu presentation.
• Explore the concept of grammar beyond the sentence level.
• Create a sample activity using discourse frames to help students communicate using a target grammar structure.

Guiding Questions:

• What is the difference between discourse and syntax?
• What insights can I learn by viewing grammar from discourse perspective?
• How can I use discourse frames to support my students' language development?

Warm Up: Sharing Our Hot Seat Question Tip

For homework this week you created your Hot Seat video podcast. For our warm up, you will synthesize your podcast in a 90 minute impromptu presentation for your partners in which you mention the grammar point, explain the key concepts learners need to understand, and provide examples of how teachers can clarify these ideas with students. Click play on the video timer and begin your speeches. The following prompts may help you organize your ideas.

• The grammar topic I chose was ...
• The most important thing for learners to know is ...
• For example ...
• A way you can help your students understand is ...

Task 1: Putting the Pieces Together

In this activity you will need to arrange a series of sentences into a coherent paragraph. Click your group link below and begin working with your partners. When you finish, discuss the following questions:

• How confident are you that you solved the puzzle?
• What strategies did you use?
• What specific clues from the text told you something about the probable order of the sentences?
• In what way does this activity relate to grammar learning and teaching?

• Group 1: CLICK HERE
• Group 2: CLICK HERE
• Group 3: CLICK HERE

Task 2: Our Discourse Frame Design

Now it is your turn to create a discourse frame activity. Click the link below and go to the section for your group. Choose a grammar structure to focus on and complete the task. You will share your ideas with your partners when you return to the main room.

• Group Worksheet: CLICK HERE

• Extra Resource: CLICK HERE - Discourse frames are not just useful for speaking exercises. They can also be used to help students learn to organize their ideas when writing. 

References:

Celece-Murcia, M. (2016). The Importance of the Discourse Level in Understanding and Teaching English Grammar. In E. Hinkel (Ed.), Teaching English Grammar to Speakers of Other Languages (pp.3-18). Routeledge.

Folse, K. (2016). Keys to Teaching Grammar to English Language Learners: A Practical Handbook. The University of Michigan Press.