Hi all!
Of course grammar teaching in needed in grade school.  In my opinion, one problem is that at some point many US English university level departments started concentrating mostly on literature and began seeing grammar as 'language teaching' which is beneath them.  So, people graduated (and graduate) and become grade school English teachers or professors without actually studying a lot of grammar themselves.
Just my 2 cents, Mike

Ed Vavra <[log in to unmask]> wrote: Dear Professor Veit and unknown inquirer,
         I had to review the research for my TRIP book manuscript, and there is research that supports the teaching of grammar, but it is not the type of grammar discussed on this list. The grammar discussed on this list is too abstract (and isolated) to be of any help to most students. All the research condemns it. (Does any student have trouble with the "go X-ing" construction that has been discussed in minute detail over the past couple of weeks?) I recently asked on this list about Anne Obenchain because there appears to be both research and theoretical support for her LINKS TO FORCEFUL WRITING. Another interesting study was done by Lester Faigley, using Christensen's approach. See: http://curie.pct.edu/courses/evavra/Bib/Authors/Daiker01_SentC.htm
The research supports teaching a very limited number of basic concepts -- prepositional phrases, subjects and verbs, clauses, etc., and having students work with them to discuss aspects of meaning and style (and punctuation).
        As the members of the ATEG list know, I propose burning their grammar books. Well, not literally, but the things are useless. Obviously, I want to invite the unknown guest to the KISS web site: http://curie.pct.edu/courses/evavra/KISS.htm
She can tell her district Language consultant that she has found an approach to teaching grammar, based on theory and research, that does not require the purchase of any books.
Ed Vavra
"Richard Veit, UNCW English Department" wrote:



Mike Garant, Senior Lecturer

(I'll be moving to the University of Tampere, Finland and Tampere Polytechnic in September)

University of Helsinki Department of Translation Studies in Kouvola

P.O. Box 94, FIN-45101 Kouvola, Finland TEL 05 825 2210  FAX 05 825 2251

Associate Editor of AEQ: http://rapidintellect.com/AEQweb/



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