Teaching grammar to English as a Second Language (ESL) learners works best when students meet grammar in meaningful context and then use it to communicate. Here are proven methods and a sample lesson you can adapt.
Deductive vs Inductive Teaching
- Deductive: the teacher explains the rule first, then students practise. Quick and clear, especially for adults and exam classes.
- Inductive (guided discovery): students look at examples and work out the rule themselves. More engaging and often more memorable.
Many teachers mix both depending on the grammar point and the group.
Lesson Frameworks
- PPP (Present, Practise, Produce): introduce the form, do controlled practice, then free speaking or writing.
- Test-Teach-Test: give a task first to see what students know, teach what is missing, then test again.
- Task-Based Learning: students complete a real task (plan a trip, solve a problem); the teacher focuses on grammar that emerges.
Teach Form, Meaning and Use
For every structure, students need to know:
- Form: how it is built (have + past participle).
- Meaning: what it expresses (experience up to now).
- Use: when people actually say it (Have you ever been to London?).
Use Concept-Checking Questions (CCQs)
Instead of asking “Do you understand?”, ask short questions that test meaning. For I used to play football: “Did I play football in the past?” (Yes) “Do I play now?” (No) “Did I play once or many times?” (Many times).
Correcting Errors Kindly
- Recasting: repeat the sentence correctly in your reply.
- Prompting: “Yesterday you…?” so the student self-corrects.
- Delayed correction: note errors during fluency activities and review them at the end, without naming students.
Sample 45-Minute Lesson: Present Perfect for Experience
- Warm-up (5 min): show photos of famous places; ask who has visited them.
- Context (5 min): students read a short dialogue with Have you ever…?
- Guided discovery (10 min): students underline the verbs and answer questions about form and time.
- Controlled practice (10 min): gap-fill and question-making.
- Free practice (12 min): “Find someone who…” mingling activity.
- Feedback (3 min): review good language and common errors.
Useful Resources for Teachers
- Grammar for English Language Teachers by Martin Parrott
- Practical English Usage by Michael Swan
- 10 fun ways to teach grammar
