Grammar for Teachers: A Guide to American English for Native and Non-Native Speakers

ISBN-13: 9781441945495 / Angielski / Miękka / 2010 / 444 str.

Andrea DeCapua

Opis

Grammar for Teachers: A Guide to American English for Native and Non-Native Speakers is a result of my frustrations over many years of teaching graduate-level structure courses and not being able to ?nd an appropriate grammar text for the pre- and in-service teachers enrolled in these classes. The students in these courses have represented a variety of teaching backgrounds: ESL and EFL teachers, native and non-nativespeakersof English, and mainstreamcontent-areateacherswith ESL students in their classes, to name a few. Some of these students have had a strong knowledge of English grammar, but often have dif?culties in applying their kno- edge to real-life discourse. Other students exposure has been limited to lessons in correctness, and are generally unaware of which language features are central to teaching ESL/EFL learners. Some students are resistant to taking this course, but are required to do so, whether to satisfy speci?c degree requirements, for state or professional certi?cation, or for other reasons. A few students have had some l- guistics, many not. The challenge has been ?nding a way to convey the essentials of AmericanEnglishgrammarclearly, toengagestudentsactivelyin theirownlearning and understanding of grammar as applicable to ESL/EFL learners, and to motivate them to undertake perceptive analyses of grammatical elements and structures, and of ESL/EFL learner needs and dif?culties. The overall aim of Grammar for Teachers is to make grammar accessible and comprehensible."

Spis treści

What is Grammar?.- Morphology.- The Noun Phrase.- Adjectives and Adverbs.- to Verbs and Verb Phrases.- Time, Tense, and Aspect of Verbs.- Modal Auxiliary Verbs and Related Structures.- Basic Sentence Patterns and Major Variations.- Compound Sentences and Introduction to Complex Sentences: Adverbial Clauses.- Complex Sentences Continued Relative Clauses.- Complex Sentences Continued: Noun Clauses.- Verbal Constructions.- Erratum.

Blurb

The purpose of Grammar for Teachers is to encourage readers to develop a solid understanding of the use and function of grammatical structures in American English. It approaches grammar from a descriptive rather than a prescriptive approach; however, throughout Grammar for Teachers differences between formal and informal language, and spoken and written English are discussed. Grammar for Teachers avoids jargon or excessive use of technical terminology and reviews essential grammar structures clearly and concisely.

The text encourages users to tap into their own, often subconscious, knowledge of the grammar of English and to make it a conscious knowledge they can apply to their own varied teaching settings. Grammar for Teachers emphasizes looking at grammar from the perspective of learners of English, an approach that allows teachers to better appreciate the language difficulties learners of English face in ESL or mainstream classrooms. Discussions of areas of difficulties for learners of English are included throughout the text.

Grammar for Teachers makes the study of grammar interesting and relevant by presenting grammar in context and by using authentic material from a wide variety of sources, including magazines, newspapers, children's books, bestsellers, works of literature, and academic prose.

In each chapter, the numerous Discovery Activities engage users in exploring the different elements of grammar and in considering how these elements work together to form meaningful units. The subsequent discussion of each Discovery Activity allows users to explore specific elements of grammar on their own.

At the end of each chapter, additional Practice Activities ask users to apply the grammar concepts presented in each chapter. Included in the Practice Activities are samples of relevant learner errors and error analysis exercises.