Stop Teaching Grammar

There are an abundance of resources online for learning and practising English grammar. The internet is saturated in it. But is teaching grammar really necessary? Is it the key to becoming a fluent speaker? I would argue no.

There is so much more to teaching English than the many; sometimes complicated and obscure grammar rules. We can see examples of this every day just by scrolling through Facebook or other social platforms.  People argue over the proper use of certain words or how to properly articulate a phrase. Even whether or not a word is actually a part of the language at all. The thing is, these arguments often happen among English students, debating and conveying their thoughts and ideas perfectly well.

What’s really important

So if it isn’t teaching grammar that builds fluency what is it? I’ve listened to many non-native English speakers give talks on different subjects, and their flawed grammar doesn’t take away from their message or make them sound less influential.

What makes the language is the passion for the topic you’re speaking about your confidence in conveying your thoughts and ideas. People respond to feelings more than stuffy rules and perfect articulation.  If you want to sound natural the key is to practice building your confidence when speaking.

What the experts think about teaching grammar

A lot goes into learning a new language, but the most important thing is to let go of the idea that language is a set of rules. instead, think of it as alive and organic. This podcast from Big Think featuring Benjamin Dreyer goes more in-depth into what language can be and why we should relax the rules a little bit. Be passionate about your ideas and the language will follow.