Grammar Woman

Brush up your grammar!

Most teachers of ESOL acknowledge that they need to be able to help their learners with the grammar of English. Learners get a little tired of explanations of error corrections which follow the formula, “That’s just the way it’s said!”

They also find a Hallidayan explanation, while admirably complete, rather too complex for their learners to absorb given their level of English. Similarly with Chomsky; many have been tempted to hang themselves from a tree diagram.

While we know that both traditional and structural grammars can be somewhat deficient in some applications, they have the potential to give a reasonably coherent explanation of how a learner might repair most of their errors.

However, because of a misguided experiment that began during the 1960s, two generations of students have been deprived of a rudimentary knowledge of grammar in any shape or form. Many of these are now teaching ESOL and doing a remarkably good job, given that many have little formal understanding of English grammar.

This is a great pity and should not be allowed to continue, given that the malaise can be easily remedied.

If you feel the need to improve your knowledge of English grammar and how it might be used to help learners with their errors, rest assured that help is available; Grammar Woman (aka Libi Burman) is at hand. No error is too complex and no error is too simple for this experienced purveyor of the rules of traditional grammar.

Grammar Woman will offer 10 weeks (20 hours) of grammar workshops which will be linked into the blog http://secondlanguagementor.com/blog/grammar-woman. If you wish to take part, you are invited to send a list of 5 grammatical queries that you’d like to have addressed by Grammar Woman via the “Comments” facility on the Grammar-Woman page. These will be used to develop the tutorial syllabus, making it a truly needs-based program.

The cost for the program has been set at $20/hour.

secondlanguagementor | datetime March 31, 2011 5:57 pm

2 Comments

  • By Maria, April 4, 2011 @ 9:17 am

    Are you available for one on one tutoring?

  • By secondlanguagementor, April 5, 2011 @ 9:49 am

    Hi Maria,
    Thanks for your message. At this stage I am available only for workshop sessions but if/when I can take one on one sessions I will advise.
    All the best,
    Libi

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