Task 1: Critical Response

The approaches that can be used to teach grammar are overt and covert approach,
grammar on context approach, grammar in isolation approach, MUF approach and many
more.
Covert approach is suitable to teach Malaysian pupils as by using this approach, the
rules of grammar and explanation are provided to the pupils. The rules are explicitly given to
the pupils. According to Chomsky, a person who knows language has mastered rules and
meaning in a definite way for an infinite class of sentences. The person who does not get
formal grammar training can speak well in English, but she/he cannot why certain sentences
are grammatical or ungrammatical. By using overt approach, pupils are able to speak in
English well and at the same time can explain the grammar rules correctly. In covert
approach, there are two methods that are inductive and deductive method. Inductive method
is a discovery method. The teacher only gives sample sentences that contain target forms
and the pupils themselves need to derive the rule. Meanwhile, deductive method is where
teacher presents the rules, pattern and generalization. Then, the teacher provides that apply
the rules. In Malaysian primary English Language classroom, the deductive method in overt
approach is more suitable to teach grammar to the pupils. When, the rules are given and the
teacher provides practise about the grammar, it make pupils understand about the grammar
rules and at the same time practice using it. Pupils in Malaysia will be confused if inductive
method is used. This is because pupils need to discovery the rules by themselves.
The approach that suitable to be used to teach pupils that write sample essay
provided is overt approach and grammar in isolation approach. Overt approach is suitable
as the teacher gives the rules of grammar and practices it. It makes the pupils understand
the rules and can practice use it. So, the pupil able to know how to use pronoun correctly,
how to use adjective kind correctly and use the preposition the, an, a correctly. Grammar
in isolation approach makes the pupils understand grammar more. In this approach,
grammar is taught as separate topics to make sure that pupils are able to recognize the
rules of grammar. This pupil is able to learn grammar and he/she knows that he/she is
learning grammar. So, the pupil will acquire the rules and able to write essays with correct
grammar in the future.
There are issues in teaching grammar. The issue is the teachers do not consider the
pupils potential difficulties while choosing approaches to teach grammar. Teacher simply
any approaches that she thinks suitable to teach the pupils. This make the pupils do not
understand the grammar taught by the teacher. Teacher should know pupils individual
differences and then decide to use one approach that really suitable for the pupils. The
teacher can the approaches used according to the grammar item and the pupils ability.
Besides, the pupils expectations also become issue in teaching grammar. Grammar
becomes the problem to the pupils to communicate in English fluently. This make the pupils
feel demotivated to learn grammar. Pupils always found that it difficult to make flexible use of
grammar taught by the teacher in class. They might know the rules, but they cannot apply
them in their daily life. This make the pupils motivated and it is difficult for them to learn
grammar. Pupils must motivate themselves to learn grammar so that they will understand
the rules and apply them.
In a nutshell, there are many approaches that can be used to teach grammar. There
are overt approach, covert approach, grammar in context approach, grammar in isolation
approach and many more. The teachers need to the best approaches to be used to teach
grammar to the pupils so that pupils will be able to understand the rules and apply them.
There are also issues in teaching grammar to the pupils. There are teachers that did not
consider the pupils ability while choosing the approaches to be used I teaching grammar.
There are also pupils that have high expectation in learning grammar. They taught that learn
grammar will be easy. When it is not, the pupils become demotivated. Pupils themselves
need to motivate themselves to learn grammar using the approaches taught by the teachers.