3 Myths and Facts about Grammar and How to Learn it
We all learned in school that Grammar is a bunch of “rules” that we have to obey.
But I will tell you a little secret that many language classes forgot:
Grammar is a creative skill that is not only completely natural, but also powerfully creative!
It has a design: just like a painting or sculpture, it is made of patterns and shapes,
and it has structures: just like the temple, towers, castles, that you can see when you travel! We use our grammar skills to express our ideas, and they become more powerful as we learn new forms.
But there are many myths about Grammar that make it something students fear!
So keep reading to unlearn these myths about the way we learn grammar.
And appreciate the creative power of grammar in your mind!
Myth #1: Grammar is the Set of Rules that you Learned in School.
Fact: You Taught Yourself your Native Grammar as a Child!
It sounds surprising, but think about it:
When you started your first grammar class you already knew how to build sentences in your language!
On your first day of school you already had many language skills:
You answered questions, expressed ideas, and even told stories,
before you ever learned about words like “nouns,” “verbs,” or “adjectives.” How did you do it?
Your grammar is structure that exists in your mind
And children have amazing brains that are designed to build their first languages.
Every time your parents spoke to you, sang to you, or read stories to you,
they gave you "language input" that helped you create your native grammar.
The same way they gave you notebooks and crayons so that you could draw.
Creating language is your mental superpower and you were born with it! You built the grammar of your native language with just a little help from your parents
You can build the grammar to do those amazing skills in English, too!
Myth #2: Grammar is like math and sentences are “correct.”
Fact: Grammar is creative and “mistakes" are often great!
Just like a tower, you create the shape of your grammar in steps.
You start with a base & frame, add bricks & stairs and keep building on the next level.
Until finally your shape is as perfect as you dreamed it could be when you started!
You built the grammar this same way too. But, the first steps don’t look perfect.
Your early grammar certainly had a different shape than it does today.
But in fact, many of your first steps were better than perfect, and helped you grow! I will give you an example:
When a child says: “Mommy, I maked a painting!”
They are showing their learning by adding [ -ed ]
And their shape gets even better when they add new forms and patterns.
Language Learners follow the same steps when they learn, too!
We love it when children build their language, so we should love our own creation, too!
Myth #3: Memorizing "Rules" Improves Students' Grammar.
Fact: Language Learners Get Better at Grammar by Using it!
Grammar isn’t like math, it’s like building, designing, dancing, or painting and creating.
Children are proud of their creative steps and so be proud of yours steps too.
Grammar patterns are not “rules,” but skills that empower your expression.
Just like dancing or painting, we learn Grammar by expressing ourselves:
by playing games, doing activities, discussing ideas, and telling stories
So you need a language class class that is as creative as you.
Take a course in "English Conversation with Chris" and build your English Grammar today!
