In general, research indicates that a combination of form and meaning may be the best teaching approach. A research
by Prabhu (cited by Beretta & Davis, 1985) 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 (1993) 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" (p.205). This is supported by CelceMurcia,
Dornyei and Thurrell (1997) who suggest that the integration of form and meaning is gaining importance in
what they refer to as the 'principled communicative approach.' Musumeci (1997) 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.