📖 Overview
The Grammar Book serves as a comprehensive reference and teaching guide for ESL/EFL instructors, covering English grammar from both theoretical and pedagogical perspectives. The text addresses complex grammatical structures through detailed explanations and practical classroom applications.
Each chapter follows a structured approach, beginning with form analysis, moving through semantic meaning, and concluding with teaching suggestions and exercises. The authors incorporate linguistic research findings while maintaining accessibility for teachers who may not have extensive theoretical backgrounds.
The work bridges the gap between academic grammar study and practical classroom instruction through its dual focus on understanding and application. This balance makes the text relevant for both new and experienced language teachers.
This collaborative work reflects a deeper understanding of how grammar knowledge transforms into effective teaching practices, emphasizing the connection between linguistic theory and real-world language instruction. The text stands as an essential resource in the field of English language teaching methodology.
👀 Reviews
Teachers and language professionals report this text explains complex grammar concepts clearly while providing practical teaching applications. Readers highlight its detailed explanations of English grammar rules, extensive examples, and teaching suggestions for addressing common student errors.
Likes:
- Comprehensive coverage of grammar topics
- Cross-linguistic comparisons helpful for teaching diverse students
- Clear explanations of form, meaning, and usage
- Strong focus on real classroom application
Dislikes:
- Dense academic writing style
- Price ($100+ for new copies)
- Physical size/weight makes it impractical to carry
- Some find it too theoretical for new teachers
Ratings:
Goodreads: 4.24/5 (108 ratings)
Amazon: 4.6/5 (136 ratings)
"This book helped me understand not just what the rules are, but why they exist and how to explain them," notes one ESL teacher on Amazon. Multiple reviewers mention keeping it as a reference throughout their teaching careers, though several suggest starting with simpler grammar guides if new to teaching.
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The Teacher's Grammar of English by Ron Cowan This resource combines linguistic theory with pedagogical application through detailed explanations of English grammar structures and their usage.
Teaching Grammar in Context by Constance Weaver The book connects grammar instruction to reading and writing skills through methods for integrating grammar into language arts curriculum.
A Practical English Grammar by A.J. Thomson, A.V. Martinet The systematic organization of grammar structures includes examples from contemporary usage and exercises for teaching contexts.
Grammar for English Language Teachers by Martin Parrott The text provides explanations of grammar points from a teacher's perspective with focus on understanding student errors and learning difficulties.
The Teacher's Grammar of English by Ron Cowan This resource combines linguistic theory with pedagogical application through detailed explanations of English grammar structures and their usage.
Teaching Grammar in Context by Constance Weaver The book connects grammar instruction to reading and writing skills through methods for integrating grammar into language arts curriculum.
🤔 Interesting facts
📚 This groundbreaking grammar textbook, first published in 1983, revolutionized how ESL/EFL teachers approach grammar instruction by introducing the concept of "grammaring" - teaching grammar as a skill rather than just a set of rules.
🎓 Marianne Celce-Murcia developed the Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) approach, which emphasizes learning grammar through meaningful interaction rather than mechanical drills.
🌏 The book incorporates cross-linguistic analysis, comparing English grammar with other languages' structures, helping teachers understand why students from different language backgrounds make specific types of errors.
📖 Each chapter includes a "Grammar in Discourse" section that shows how grammatical structures function in real-world contexts, from casual conversations to academic writing.
🔄 The third edition (2016) added extensive coverage of corpus linguistics and how big data analysis of actual language use can inform grammar teaching decisions.