In general, research indicates that a combination of form and meaning may be the best teaching approach. A research
by Prabhu showed that students who received meaning-based instruction did well on the meaning-based test but poorly on a discrete-point grammar test. Spada & Lightbown postulated that "form focused instruction and corrective feedback within the context of communicative interaction can contribute positively to second language development in both the short and long term". This is supported by CelceMurcia, Dornyei and Thurrell who suggest that the integration of form and meaning is gaining importance in what they refer to as the 'principled communicative approach.' Musumeci went on further to say that students should learn grammar explicitly but should also be given the opportunity to practice them in communicative authentic and simulated tasks.