Integrating grammar and speaking

How can I provide speaking practice for a grammar lesson?

Many of you are supporting Vietnamese teachers who teach the grammar from their coursebook and would like you to provide speaking practice of it.

One straightforward approach to teaching grammar that you will be familiar with from your training is PPP - Present, Practise, Produce.

Stage 1: The teacher presents the target language (for example a grammar point such as comparative forms). The teacher makes sure that the meaning, form, pronunciation and use are dealt with.

Stage 2: The students do a controlled (sometimes called 'restricted') practice activity which could be spoken or written. This activity is usually quite limited so as to ensure that the students produce the target language. At the extreme end of controlled this might just involved some repetition perhaps of sentences or a dialogue. At the freer end of the spectrum students might exchange information with a partner, using the target language.

Stage 3: The students do a free practice activity (sometimes called 'authentic'). This is often a speaking task that requires them to draw upon all of their linguistic knowledge to select the correct language needed for the task. It is more open than stage 2 - other language will be produced in addition to the target language. It may also be more personalised. The teacher gives feedback on this.

Many Vietnamese English coursebooks stop at stage 2 (and even then don't always provide much controlled practice). This is where you can pick up the lesson and provide more controlled and freer practice activities to give the students the chance to use the target language. These are activities that often involve putting students into pairs or small groups. Tasks can include: information exchanges, surveys, roleplays and games.

We have just put some new activities to practise various grammar points onto the website: http://pe8119.wix.com/ttv-teaching-blog#!grammar/c1e8m

You can also use these activities as warmers or fillers (but only if they know the grammar point!).