Beverly Ann Chin research about the role of grammar in improving students’ writing     

 Damián Francis

                There are a lot of controversies about what would be the best way to teach grammar in order to improve students writing. According to Beverly Ann Chin, in her research article entitled the role of grammar in improving students’ writing, native speakers acquire their languages automatically, she says that they have capacity to perform the grammar correctly when speaking, but people tend to have difficulties to apply their natural grammar knowledge in writing.

                 The author says that an effective grammar instruction begins with learners’ knowledge about grammar. According to her,  this cognizance could help them as they write. With this methodology students are intended to connect their knowledge of the oral grammar to written language. She supports this idea with some researches. The studies say that the most effective way to improve students’ writing is by teaching them in context, for example, it is better to teach punctuation or any other aspect taking as a model the learners’ own writing.

                  Ms. Chin also says that teachers should prioritize the teaching of those grammar aspects that affect learners’ written communication. She considers that the best strategy to teach grammar is by instructing students during the different phases of the writing process. It means that after students make their first draft they can be Taught some grammatical concepts based on their own production, as well as based on their grammar errors.

          I totally agree with the author when she says that there is a difference between the use of grammar in oral language and in written language. People usually acquire their native language automatically and they become very effective using it orally, but it is not the same when they have the opportunity to show written competence. In order to accomplish this capacity they need instruction and the best way is by using their own writing to teach them.

        To me, Ms. Chin is right when she says that the most effective way to improve students’ use of grammar in writing is by teaching it in context. In my experience as an English language teacher, I have noticed that teaching grammar in context is easier to be understood by students. From my point of view, teachers should not work on more than a grammar aspect in each lesson. For example, if the teacher has as objective to develop the position of adjectives, he or she should just focus on that. It is not a good idea to correct punctuation or any other aspect because learners could get confused.

          I also agree with the author when she says that teachers should prioritize those grammar aspects that affect students’ communication. I strongly believe that teachers have to focus on students’ needs. From my view point, it is a good idea to take advantage of the whole writing process to reinforce the grammar teaching because the more students practice the more they learn.