Connecting grammar to meaning
Teachers model grammar by using dialogues, stories,
and songs. Modeling standard use of grammar does not
ensure learning, but it can contribute to the learning process.
Many of the dialogues that occur in primary grade
classrooms have grammatical patterns, such as, “There is a
teddy bear on the table,” “I like swimming,” and “I usually
play with friends on the weekend,” that children can practice
and repeat authentically in context (Cameron 2001).
Ms. Zeynep: How many cats are there in the garden?
Mert: Two. There are two cats in the garden.
Ms. Zeynep: What color are they?
Mert: White.
Ms. Zeynep: Do you like them?
Mert: Yes, I like them a lot.
Ms. Zeynep and Ms. Yasemin are highly experienced in
teaching English to young foreign language learners. They
present grammatical forms in a communicative context
based on the children’s interests and language levels, using
a number of meaning- and form-focused activities. These
activities focus on English’s structure and form through
fill-in the-blanks (e.g., There ____ __ five toys on the table,
She usually ____ __ tennis on the weekend), and circle the
correct form activities (e.g., How many/much pencils are
there in the pencil case?, She often play/plays the guitar
on the weekend). Ms. Zeynep and Ms. Yasemin use these
grammar-related activities to integrate form and meaning
and promote children’s involvement with and use of
English in context.
Understanding instructions: Simon Says
In the second grade EFL classroom, Ms. Yasemin uses
the game Simon Says to teach imperatives (commands)
and prepositions such as on, in, under, and behind. In this
school, children in kindergarten through grade 8 enjoy
playing Simon Says. An eective way to teach children who
do not yet comprehend abstract ideas such as the rules of
grammar, is to have them use their bodies in immediate,
concrete, and thoroughly engaging ways.
The second-graders listen carefully and try to follow the
instructions closely. They need to recognize the imperative
form and the various prepositions to respond with the
appropriate action, so before and after playing Simon Says,
Ms. Yasemin briefly explains the prepositions and imperatives
used in the game. “When Simon says touch your
nose, you should touch your nose.” Her primary objective
is teaching children to understand the instructions. They
are not expected to speak or do anything other than follow
Simon’s instructions.