Helping ESL students break through the grammar barrier
Three key challenges that English teachers face when trying to find practice material for ESL students are: 1) where to find suitable resources online, 2) how to ensure that there is sufficient material for learners at a range of different English levels, and 3) collecting feedback on students’ activity and challenge areas. In this post, we’ll look at how Tense Buster (our online grammar program) can help teachers overcome these challenges and set English learners on a path to success.
As an ESL student, wrapping one’s head around the peculiarities and inconsistencies of English grammar can be frustrating to say the least.
Wrapping one’s head around English grammar rules can be frustrating
To start with an extreme example, consider the grammar rules that native speakers know – but don’t know they know. In The Elements of Eloquence, Mark Forsyth explains the inconceivably complex word order that we intuitively use for adjectives: opinion-size-age-shape-colour-origin-material-purpose noun. So, I might say, ‘what a beautiful little old stone cottage’ – but ‘what a little stone old beautiful cottage’ would sound terribly awkward.
Then there are the infamous grammar rules that most English learners will know and fear – such as conditional statements. Due to their complexity (not to mention the fact that there are four types with distinct rules), students often find tackling them demotivating.
So, what should English learners do to prevent themselves from being overwhelmed by the challenges of English grammar? Our advice is twofold. First and foremost (and this is unlikely to come as a surprise) is the importance of practice, practice, practice. When trying to work out a plural, there’s no way for an English learner to logically deduce that ox becomes oxen, while box becomes boxes – or that goose becomes geese but moose certainly doesn’t become meese. You have to try it out, make mistakes, and learn from them.
Secondly, it might help to realise that perfect grammar isn’t only unachievable, it’s also unnecessary. For most of us the purpose of language is to communicate with other people and to understand them. This is certainly possible even with the occasional incorrect plural or misplaced preposition.
Tense Buster uses a guided discovery approach to teach 33 key grammar areas - and is accessible on any device!
How Tense Buster Can Help ESL Students
It’s all well and good to say the key to English grammar is practice, but that leaves the question of where to find quality resources. Most importantly, perhaps, is whether these learning materials are engaging. As anyone who has ever looked at a grammar textbook can tell you - English grammar resources can be quite dull.
Tense Buster fills this void by moving away from dry grammar and bringing it into the context of everyday life.
Tense Buster takes a guided discovery approach to teaching grammar. Units begin with a presentation based on a dialogue or story where learners form theories about how the grammar works – which they then confirm or correct. The program also incorporates listening, pronunciation and vocabulary-building elements – making each grammar point varied. This inductive approach has been shown to increase engagement and enhance learner autonomy and motivation1,2.
The British Council, which uses Tense Buster to help to English learners in its centres worldwide, has found the program to be “very popular with students, attractive and easy to use”. Accessible on any device, anytime, anywhere, Tense Buster allows students to take charge of their English learning and practise in a way that suits them.
How Tense Buster Can Help ESL Teachers and Educators
Tense Buster covers 33 key grammar areas across five levels - with lots of exercises and various task types in every unit. No matter their English level, learners can find learning material that challenges them and progress at their own pace.
“Tense Buster is a very practical product. The exercises are of interest to a wide range of students and can be used in a variety of contexts”
Some educational institutions, such as the University of Surrey, choose to integrate Tense Buster into the curriculum of a taught English course for a blended learning approach. Automatic marking and feedback is built into the program - saving teachers’ valuable time. The integrated Learner Management System allows teachers to check how students are progressing and identify challenging areas that can be addressed in class.
Automatic marking and feedback saves teachers’ valuable time
Other educators prefer to provide Tense Buster to English learners on a self-access basis. Royal Holloway, University of London opts for this approach - with English in-sessional students using the program for independent and remote study. A high variety and quantity of learning content is crucial for this to be effective: “Tense Buster is a very practical product. The exercises are of interest to a wide range of students and can be used in a variety of contexts” (Royal Holloway).
Learning (and teaching) English grammar might often feel like a painful experience - but it doesn’t need to be. It is the role of the ESL teacher to guide and encourage English learners through its contradictory rules and conventions. With Tense Buster doing the heavy lifting, it can be a fun and engaging experience - helping ESL learners break through the grammar barrier!
Let me leave you with an oft-quoted comparison highlighting the importance of correct punctuation: “Let’s eat, grandpa!” (considerate grandchild), vs “Let’s eat grandpa!” (cannibalism). Correct grammar and punctuation can save lives!
Are you an English learner or educator interested in using Tense Buster? Try a free demo of the program now by clicking here, or learn more about the program by clicking here.
1 Haight, C.E., Herron, C. and Cole, S.P. (2007), The Effects of Deductive and Guided Inductive Instructional Approaches on the Learning of Grammar in the Elementary Foreign Language College Classroom. Foreign Language Annals, 40: 288-310. doi:10.1111/j.1944-9720.2007.tb03202.x
2 Inductive and Deductive Approach in TESOL. Retrieved from https://www.tefl.com.mx/inductive-and-deductive