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These are seven arguments why grammar should be taught and put at the
Forefront of language teaching.
1) The sentence-machine argument
Grammar is like a ‘sentence-maker machine’ and it gives learners the
Opportunity to develop their limitless linguistic creativity. The number of
Sentences a learner can make is controlled by vocabulary at the learners’
Command and creativity.
2) The fine-tuning argument
Teaching grammar is corrective against ambiguity. For example:
Last Friday night, I was boring in my house. In written language, the
Statement has to be more explicit. It is similar to the ‘Me Tarzan, you
Jane’-type language that fail to deliver in terms of intelligibility and
Appropriateness.
3) The fossilization argument
Technically, linguistic competence becomes fossilized when learners who
Receive no instruction become at risk of fossilizing sooner.
4) The advance-organizer argument
Grammar instruction could have a delayed effect. Grammar teaching received
Previously even insufficient can still turn one into a fluent speaker especially
When there was a heavy emphasis on grammar.
5) The discrete item argument
Grammar consists of an apparently finite set of rules that can help reduce
The apparent enormity of the language learning task for both teachers and
Students by tidying language up and organizing it into neat categories
(sometimes called discrete items); grammarians make language digestible.
(A discrete item is any unit of the grammar system that is sufficiently
Narrowly defined to form the focus of a lesson or an exercise: e.g. the present
Continuous, the definite article, possessive pronouns).

6) The rule-of-law argument
Since grammar is a system of learnable rules, it lends itself to a view of
Teaching and learning known as transmission. A transmission view refers to
The role of education as the transfer of a body of knowledge (typically in the
Form of facts and rules) from those that have the knowledge to those that do
Not. It is typically associated with the kind of institutionalized learning where
Rules, order and discipline are highly valued. The need for rules, order and
Discipline is particularly acute in large classes of unruly and unmotivated
Teenagers – a situation that many teachers of English are confronted with
Daily. In this sort of situation grammar offers the teacher a structured system
That can be taught and tested in methodical steps.
7) The learner expectations argument
Regardless of the many arguments for or against grammar teaching,
The Teaching and Assessment of Grammare learners do come to language classes with fairly fixed
expectations. These expectations may be derived from previous classroom language learning
experiences. So, should we teach grammar, or should we just create the conditions for learners to learn
naturally? What grammar should we teach? Pedagogical Issues Research findings show that there are
five main challenges in teaching grammar that teachers face, namely lack of experience, expectations of
the students, lack of facilities, negative perceptions on the teaching of grammar and preparing grammar
lessons (Yusob, 2018). Lack of Experience and Students' Expectations Students have high expectations of
teachers. When teachers lack the experience, it is tantamount to failing. Teachers must know his or her
students, how they learn, and how to make them learn. Experience is something essential in managing a
grammar class and the lack of experience makes grammar teaching for them a trial and error event
which often results to learning frustrations on the part of the students. Lack of Facilities Crucial to aid in
making grammar lesson more meaningful are the sufficient facilities. Enough exposure of the target
language will help learner learn language better (Ana & Ratminingsih, 2012) Teaching and learning
process could be done with the chalk-and-talk method (Hassan, 2013; Normazidah, Koo & Hazita, 2012),
but the lesson might be perceived as boring. Students these days appreciate the lessons which involve
more the use of ICT facilities or at least presentation slides (Hiew, 2012) Negative perceptions on the
teaching of grammar The way we perceive grammar greatly affects the amount of learning and rate of
proficiency in language learning. Having a negative perception on language teaching as noted by Wong
and Barrea-Marlys (2012) may demotivate both the English lecturers and the students. They, the
students have to bear the consequences as a result of the English lecturers' perceptions. Wong and
Barrea-Marlys 2012. Preparing grammar lessons Preparing grammar lessons can be very heavy and
difficult on the part of the teacher than most people think Azar (2007) emphasized that the lessons
should be a balance between fulfilling the students' needs and achieving the objectives. English teachers
should find good resources and materials in preparing grammar lessons. Chapter 5: Issues of Grammar
Teaching and Assessment 73

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72

Forefront of language teaching.

1) The sentence-machine argument

Grammar is like a ‘sentence-maker machine’ and it gives learners the

Opportunity to develop their limitless linguistic creativity. The number of

Sentences a learner can make is controlled by vocabulary at the learners’

Command and creativity.

2) The fine-tuning argument

Teaching grammar is corrective against ambiguity. For example:

Last Friday night, I was boring in my house. In written language, the

Statement has to be more explicit. It is similar to the ‘Me Tarzan, you

Jane’-type language that fail to deliver in terms of intelligibility and

3) The fossilization argument

Technically, linguistic competence becomes fossilized when learners who

Receive no instruction become at risk of fossilizing sooner.

4) The advance-organizer argument

Grammar instruction could have a delayed effect. Grammar teaching received

When there was a heavy emphasis on grammar.

5) The discrete item argument

Students by tidying language up and organizing it into neat categories

(sometimes called discrete items); grammarians make language digestible.

(A discrete item is any unit of the grammar system that is sufficiently

Continuous, the definite article, possessive pronouns).

Since grammar is a system of learnable rules, it lends itself to a view of

Teaching and learning known as transmission. A transmission view refers to

The role of education as the transfer of a body of knowledge (typically in the

Not. It is typically associated with the kind of institutionalized learning where

Discipline is particularly acute in large classes of unruly and unmotivated

Teenagers – a situation that many teachers of English are confronted with

That can be taught and tested in methodical steps.

7) The learner expectations argument

Regardless of the many arguments for or against grammar teaching,

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