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6. CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN RESEARCH ON THE TEACHING OF GRAMMAR

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 June 2004

Hossein Nassaji  and
Sandra Fotos
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Abstract

With the rise of communicative methodology in the late 1970s, the role of grammar instruction in second language learning was downplayed, and it was even suggested that teaching grammar was not only unhelpful but might actually be detrimental. However, recent research has demonstrated the need for formal instruction for learners to attain high levels of accuracy. This has led to a resurgence of grammar teaching, and its role in second language acquisition has become the focus of much current investigation. In this chapter we briefly review the major developments in the research on the teaching of grammar over the past few decades. This review addresses two main issues: (1) whether grammar teaching makes any difference to language learning; and (2) what kinds of grammar teaching have been suggested to facilitate second language learning. To this end, the chapter examines research on the different ways in which formal instruction can be integrated with communicative activities.

Type
RESEARCH IN TEACHING LANGUAGE SYSTEMS
Information
Annual Review of Applied Linguistics , Volume 24 , January 2004 , pp. 126 - 145
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press

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