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There is a saying like: practising on grammar is like counting money - if you didn't make a lot of money, you have not much to count. In other words, the learning of grammar is based on a certain amount of language input and accumulation. If students themselves have enough accumulation, then proper combing and practice will allow them to develop a deeper understanding of the language and build a systematic understanding. On the contrary, with a relative lack of language input, simply practising on grammar will cause difficulties in comprehension and eventually lead to inefficiency. Children around 1 year old can achieve basic daily language communication. We all know that in this communication process, at first young children only express themselves through simple single words, before slowly transitioning to two-words, three-words, and simple sentences. In their speaking, there are many sentences in the process that are not following the rules of grammar. But this does not affect the listener's understanding, nor does it discourage young children from opening their mouths. Learning a second language is the same as learning a baby's tongue. First, we need a lot of input, and then we need to be not afraid to make mistakes in output and to speak up, not to be too attached to grammar.
In MiraTutor's 10 years of teaching ESL online, we have observed the following student types:
- Students who are learning ESL completely from scratch and at a young age. These students prove to be blank sheets of paper and can easily become good students, i.e. great in all aspects including grammar. At the beginning of the course, they may not understand and may not say a word. But when they accumulate enough, the teacher will find that they express sentences with correct grammar. They even don't pay special attention to grammar, and correct grammar is a natural expression.
- Students who have learned grammar and are young. These students can understand the teacher in class, but they are cautious in their expressions. Usually, they express sentences with correct grammar, but sometimes they are not native enough. After a period of accumulation, they will slowly say sentences with great grammar, and then there will be a stage jump in progress, because their previous grammar knowledge, together with the previous accumulation, speeds up the absorption process.
- Students who have studied grammar and are older or adults. It is difficult for these students to output completely native sentences with good grammar naturally and fluently. This is because their age determines the confinement of their minds in learning a second language. Their writing is usually better than their speaking because they have enough time to refine their grammar when they write.
To sum up, in English language learning, try to help students understand: grammar is important, but don't take it too seriously, Don't let grammar be a barrier to expression.