How To Teach English Grammar - Even If You Are Bad At It?

Are you not confident enough to teach English grammar in the ESL classroom? Or do you think you are not qualified enough to teach?

Whatever the reason might be for your lack of confidence to teach English grammar, you must know that you don’t need to be the best in grammar to teach English grammar. You just need to know a few rules and strategies. Besides, there are so many TEFL Courses in Malaysia to help you grasp the basics of English Grammar.

Indeed, English learners often dislike the word - grammar - when it comes to improving their language skills. It is a fact that grammar is a crucial part of English language learning but at the same time, it is also very difficult to find interesting materials or teachers who can make the process of learning grammar simple and functional. Many teachers depend on Online TEFL/TESOL Programs to develop their basic idea about the English language.

TEFL/TESOL teachers come from all around the world with different backgrounds and experience levels. One of the many problems that these teachers face on regular basis is lack of confidence in their grammar. On the other hand, native speakers often have a “feeling” about being grammatically correct but unaware of its source. The reason behind this is most of the native speakers are not directly taught English grammar but automatically adapt the language as they grow up speaking the language. Even non-native speakers can face difficulties with English grammar if they have acquired the language on the job or through informal training.

And then there are ones who did not get the opportunity to learn good English. There are many students who fall under this category. Though they are making a good living in an English-speaking country, many of them still consider their lack of grammar knowledge in English as holding them back from getting better opportunities.

How much English grammar do I need to know before I start teaching?

If you are talking about how to teach English grammar, you can depend on the basic education in English for most things and strengthen your concepts when you require them. If you are looking to teach English grammar effectively, you need to keep in mind a few things:

◉ The basic parts of speech: noun, verb, adverb, adjective, preposition, etc.

◉ Verb agreement: Who is doing the action? Connecting a verb to the subject in a sentence is the most basic concept of grammar.

◉ Verb tenses: learn the basic the simple present, simple future and simple past and with this, you will be able to teach most of the beginner level English grammar classes.

The above-mentioned topics are the basics of English grammar that you need to know to get started. Once you start, you will be able to learn more of it, and gradually, you’ll be able to teach something difficult as participial adjectives.

What are some ways to improve my grammar before I start teaching?

There are several ways to prepare yourself for teaching English grammar. You can get some ideas from the following points-

◉ You can pursue a TEFL course that will brush up on your basic grammar skills, like the 120-Hour Master Certificate. If you are already TEFL-certified, you can enrol for a Specialization in Teaching English Grammar course to level up your grammar before you start teaching.

◉ Converse with people who are proficient in the English language and who can enlighten you on what beginners are still confused about. It will strengthen your capability to teach English grammar.

◉ Dig into some pedagogical aids to enhance your grammatical skills. You can search for terms like “English grammar info graphic” or “verb agreement visual aid” online and you can be introduced o a lot of things that will help you learn English grammar.

◉ Improve your writing skills with the help of an online tutor. You might need someone to check on your written communication.

After you’ve completed your formal training on how to teach English grammar, you need to find simple ways to improve your grammar. Develop a habit of reading, listen to historical podcasts about grammar, take online writing courses, etc.

You don’t need to be flawless in English grammar to teach English. In fact, you can develop their interest in language and its intricacies by admitting that you don’t have perfect grammar! Moreover, there are several Online TEFL/TESOL Programs to help you enhance your English grammatical skills.