Teaching Grammar to Promote Communicative Accuracy

Raghda El-Essawi and Laila El Sawi
The American University of Cairo

This workshop, sponsored by the American University of Cairo and Georgetown University, is based on two assumptions. The first is that successful learning of grammatical forms depends upon understanding why they are used (i.e. meaning created through their usage), when (i.e. type of sentence or text in which they appear), and how such structures are used in Arabic language. The second is that learners should be encouraged to use learned grammar structures to express meaning as early as possible. Through presenting a continuum of activities that help teachers move students from form noticing, to form control, and finally to form use as part of their oral and written expression, it is expected that learners will be able to use learned structures to enhance their ability at self expression and to do express themselves accurately.