Materials and equipment

Handout 12.20: Modal Auxiliaries (2 pages)
Handout 12.21: Brief Overview of Verbs
Flip chart and markers

Preparation

Copy handouts.

STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS

1. Introduce the technique “Lines of Progression.” In this technique, the degrees of words (for example, annoyed to mad) or changes in a verb’s tense (for example I said – I say – I will be saying) are placed in a visual continuum. You used a line of progression when you demonstrated the temperature words beside the thermometer picture during the section on vocabulary. There is another example using a change in verb tense. Talk about using lines of progression to make concepts clearer, especially for visually oriented learners.
2. Demonstrate by putting the following sentence on the flip chart (in past perfect continuous tense). Add a timeline. Indicate where on the timeline the action is taking place (as we have with the row of x’s).

I had been going for two years but I don’t go anymore.

3. Hand out Modal Auxiliaries. Say that this is an example of how charts can be used to explain grammar concepts. They can be simple, or they can be more complicated, like the handout. Simple charts like those showing simple past or present versions of verbs can be done by the tutor. Write an example like the following on the flip chart:

4. Hand out the Brief Overview of Verbs sheet as information that tutors can hang on to, but don’t look over the handout unless you have extra time.
5. Encourage them to use existing charts in grammar texts if making a chart would be difficult for them to do from scratch. Suggest that tutors also make use of the written explanations and samples in grammar texts when working with learners who know grammar terms. You might want to show some good texts from your program’s collection.