B: Intermediate and Advanced Learners

Some Considerations

• Link the grammar taught to what the learner needs to know to achieve her short and long-term goals.
• Do not use grammar exercises in isolation - pick a topic that the learner will read, write and talk about. Learning the grammar point should help the learner communicate about the topic.
• Do not use a lot of "grammar talk" - learners need to know how to use a preposition, not necessarily what it is.
• Identify what grammar should be taught by listening to your learner - do not teach something she already does well.
• Focus on reoccurring problems that could result in miscommunication. Look for patterns of error and choose the most important one or two problems to work on during a lesson.
• Do not correct every error that your learner makes - this will be both frustrating and counterproductive for the learner.
• Remember the goal is to improve the learner's ability to communicate outside the classroom. This cannot be measured using traditional grammar tests.
• Discuss your learner's expectations regarding grammar instruction. While the information provided may give you a framework to determine how grammar should be taught, your learner is ultimately the expert on what works or does not work well for her.

But what if I don't know grammar?

You know a lot more grammar than you think you know! Although we may have learned to speak "intuitively", we went through a trial and error process as children that allowed us to learn how to use grammar correctly.