Teaching English Grammar: What to Teach and How to Teach it Paperback – 5 July 2010

Providing you are using it in the manner intended, obviously, Jim Scrivener’s “Teaching English Grammar” is an excellent resource and highly recommended. The reason for the caveat is that in terms of practical use, it isn’t designed to be a core teaching text for students of English (although as a core for teaching English teachers, it is arguably more central). This means that it’s not a book designed to start at page one and to use it as a basis for a language course. In fact, the most likely use for this book is as a supplement to a core teaching text to provide clear explanations of problems and provide some alternative exercises.Short chapters are organised around specific pieces of grammar (eg countable and uncountable nouns). Scrivener starts each with a summary of the form of the grammar (very helpful), ideas about presenting this topic, exercises to teach practice, concept checking questions, and often thoughts on meaning and use and common problem areas that students have.All is presented in a clear and practical format. There is no index, which is a bit of a shame, but otherwise it’s a good teaching resource. It’s not an academic treatise on grammar covering all aspects, and it might have been helpful to give more indication (there is some) of which is most appropriate for different levels of student fluency. With each topic, you will want to treat it like a menu rather than a recipe - pick a few exercises or, indeed, explanations. I guess what I’m saying is it will help you with ideas for explaining and teaching but won’t help you (much) to plan a course of work for students.I have found it more readable and practical than some of the more extensive tomes that are out there. Even so, just a cursory glance at some of the subjects will soon make you realise how frustrating the English language can be. It’s also worth noting that Scrivener’s emphasis is on common usage rather than grammatical purity - which is, by and large, a very good thing. So, as long as you don't expect either a substitute course plan or a comprehensive guide to all aspects of English grammar, then this is an excellent book and far clearer, and slightly less "dry" than others that I have seen.

I just love it. Whenever you either have a new grammar point to expose and explain, look it up in the book and find out not only how to introduce it and expose it : it also tells you what mistakes your students are likely to make and therefore what to insist on, it gives you the famous "concept" question to check their understanding and do some teaching if need be on the whole grammar point. I think it is definitely a must to the inexperienced teacher, and probably a good addition to teachers who wish to revisit their grammar explanations on renew the activities that lead onto a new grammar point, etc. The only minor drawback to me is that the author is probablyu good at drawing on the board, so he gives lots of ideas of scenes to get the teaching from, ... and I can not do it !

I bought this just before starting my CELTA course, I had already purchased Scrivener's 'Learning Teaching' and desperately needed help with my grammar studies so went for his 'Teaching English Grammar'. It really helped with my teacher practice lessons as it explained grammar points to me so clearly I was able to teach these fundamental grammar without huge issues. The book offers other guidelines such as what ESOL/EFL students have difficulties with when studying the English language so again this was of help with the lessons plans 'anticipated problems'.Worth every penny, even the CELTA course tutors recommended this book for trainee teachers.

Or rather, during the last two years for me as an ESL teacher. Immensely practical, well laid out, and clear. It doesn't just include lesson plans, but a number of different ways of teaching various points, all of which can be adapted. It's exactly what I'd been looking for. Concept questions, role play ideas and even sketches for board drawings are included (these last are particularly inspiring). Grammar presentation is so often inadequate in most of the textbooks I use, but this book really helps to answer all of the 'Why's, and the 'Can I say [insert weird-sounding English sentence]? Why not?' I expect I'll be using this book a lot in future, I only wish I'd bought it earlier instead of Martin Parrott's dry-as-a-bone 'Grammar for English Language Teachers'.

Excellent and extremely useful tool for me, for CPD and teaching.

Bought this quite a while ago, but always have it with me when I'm teaching English. A really useful book for practical lessons. Some of the exercises require you to draw things on the board which isn't all that easy if your not good at art, but hey, I manage (mostly). Also, the author steers clear of spoon-feeding you with worked examples, so you have to think for yourself. This also helps to keep the lesson relevant.A great resource which i would highly recommend.

Jim Scrivener is no stranger to grammar books and English in general; he produced many good books over the years. However, this latest edition of his is well presented and balanced. The book tackles the issue of teaching English grammar in a very easy and simplified version; it takes you through the units step by step and talks you through what is suitable and what is not.Brilliant book for the experienced teacher and the novice alike.

Outstanding, clear guidance on what to teach, and brilliant and generous ideas for how to teach it in the classroom. Totally practical.