Posted: April 4th, 2015

analysing and critiquing the teaching of grammar

LCN614 Assignment One: Write an essay analysing and critiquing the teaching of grammar in a selected ESL/EFL textbook. (The textbook is PathWays listening, speaking and Critical Thinking)

Length: 2,500 words

This essay requires you to provide a contextualised analysis and critique of how appropriately a chosen item of grammar is presented for second language teaching/learning in an English language textbook of your choice. This assignment offers you the opportunity to apply the insights you have gained through the references in the list below. The assignment is in 3 parts, as follows:

Section One: Background and focus on the selected grammar item

From the list below, select one grammar item that you are interested in teaching to a particular group of ESL or EFL learners. In a short paragraph describe the teaching/learning context and give a brief profile of your language learners (this may relate to your actual or intended teaching context). Give an explanation of why you have selected this particular grammar item and identify some of the key issues these second language learners face in trying to master this grammar item.

Section Two: Textbook analysis

Choose one English language textbook (PathWays listening, speaking and Critical Thinking has been chosen) and analyse how it approaches the teaching/learning of your selected grammar item. You can refer to any current ESL or EFL textbook, but it is preferable to use one that directly relates to your particular English language teaching context. Your analysis will discuss how the textbook covers the form, meaning and use of the selected grammar item, and identify the grammar pedagogy that is evidenced in these pages. Support your analysis with reference in the list below and in the research literature. (Photocopy the textbook pages that address your selected grammar item and place these in the Appendix of your submitted assignment for your lecturer’s reference).

Section Three: Critique of the textbook grammar pedagogy

In this final section you will provide a detailed critique of the textbook treatment of your selected grammar item, noting the strengths and weaknesses of this pedagogic approach and its relevance to your second language learners. You will support your critique with references to both the research literature and your teaching context. Your critique should also incorporate your suggestions for further extending or enhancing the language learning activities so as to maximise their value for your particular language learners.

List of Grammar Items

Instruction:   Select ONE of the following

• Simple Present Tense v present continuous tense
• Present perfect tense
• Question forms
• Simple past tense v Present perfect tense
• Simple past v past continuous tense
• Past perfect tense
• Present and past participles
• Ways of expressing the future
• Conditionals
• Conjunctions
• Countable and non-countable nouns
• Articles
• Modals
• Passives
• Phrasal Verbs

Use these articles as references and others new references 2000 onwards