[etni] Re: etni Digest V7 #28
- From: לאה קירשנברג <lkirshenberg@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: Howard Hanan Sibirsky <howdon@xxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 01:55:39 +0200
HANAN,
I can assure you that at Levinsky all students are taught Pedagogical
Grammar, i.e. modern methods of teaching Grammar in context and
incorporating it into the domains of oral and writing activities. I am
afraid that there is a certain misunderstanding here. Grammar was taught in
a conventional boring way for years in Israel and since it contributed
almost nothing to the language proficiency of Israeli students it was
practically removed from the syllabus, the theory being that language should
be taught in a natural, communicative way - the whole language approach -
and just as native speakers learn to speak fluently without learning
grammar, so would FL students. Unfortunately that didn't happen and Grammar
is now officially back (different methods) in order to improve the
proficiency level. By the way, that trend is international. Israeli
lecturers at universities and teachers' training colleges participate in
international conferences and are familiar with current trends in the FL
field.
In short, I repeat:. the question is no longer and should never have been
whether or not to teach grammar but HOW. Grammar can be taught in an
interesting and efficient way IN CONTEXT.
Dr. Lea Kirshenberg
Levinsky College of Education
On Thu, Jan 29, 2009 at 12:13 PM, Howard Hanan Sibirsky
<howdon@xxxxxxxxxx>wrote:
> Lea,
>
> I had been a teacher of Spanish in Connecticut before I came on Alyah.
>
> The day I began to teach in Israel I realized how - sorry that I have to
> put it in these words - backward we are in the teaching a foreign language.
>
> Grammar is a part of teaching. However, in Israel it has become, and still
> is, the backbone of teaching English.
>
> Empathizing English Grammar as it is the rule here, has led to a great
> dislike for the language and, as you put it, " *The
> very high number of students who can hardly write a grammatically correct
> sentence is the sad result of having neglected Grammar for so long
> *. "
>
> Grammar must be a supportive *addition* to language teaching, but not
> teaching language itself.
>
> Grammar is *theory* and not language per se.
>
> You write quite correctly, "*It is time all teachers realized that the
> question is not whether or not to teach Grammar, but how to teach it!"
> *
> **
> I ask you; How can teachers realize something that they have no idea
> about.? Where are other methods taught? What changes have been made and
> taught in the teachers colleges? What technology has been introduced in the
> classroom? I will answer my own question - NONE !!! Nothing has really
> changed since I arrived in 1970.
>
> It was my luck to have taught for 19 years in a school were the principal
> had given me full support, not the English co-coordinator. I was supported
> when I asked that English computer programs be introduced in the computer
> room. I stopped giving grammar exams. We studied grammar from a wonderful
> book that made it easy due to the fact that the vocabulary was easy to
> understand and it was designed to teach. Once a week was enough. I made sure
> that all students in the class orally read at least six answers from the
> book. They had no fear of grammar.The fact that I was kept as a Moreh Bahir
> for 19 till retirement was for me the proof of my success.
>
> I will not mention the name of the school but believe me it is one of the
> top schools in Israel. I also will not go into, here, what has to change
> and how.
>
> Leah, I have taught for 35 years in Israel. I have worked in a number of
> schools. When I say that not nothing has changed I tell you that it is based
> on years and years of experience.
>
> I will like you and others to research what is done in other countries, see
> teaching of foreign language as it is taught using other NEWER methods.
>
>
>
> Howard Hanan Sibirsky
>
> From: lkirshenberg@xxxxxxxxx
> Subject: re: Grammar needs hip operation
>
> Dear All,
> The article on Grammar from the Australian newspaper reflects everything I
> have always believed in and that's why I was so happy to read it and I hope
> many teachers will. All along the years, when it was fashionable to believe
> that we could teach a foreign language without teaching Grammar, I was
> against that opinion. Now Grammar is not only officially back, but it is
> making a dramatic comeback! It is time all teachers realized that the
> question is not whether or not to teach Grammar, but how to teach it! The
> very high number of students who can hardly write a grammatically correct
> sentence is the sad result of having neglected Grammar for so long.
>
> Dr. Lea Kirshenberg
> Levinsky College of Education
>
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