Functional Grammar in the Esl Classroom: Noticing, Exploring and Practicing

The book introduces six general procedures for teaching grammar to learners of English as a second language. The procedures are designed to encourage learners to notice, explore and practise grammar in context. Each description and discussion of a procedure is followed by two sample lesson plans together with sample texts and worksheets. Teachers can either use these `as is' or adapt them for their own students. The lessons are suitable for a wide range of students from beginners to advanced learners. A final chapter provides examples of lessons in which several procedures are combined. In addition, before each sample lesson plan, the grammar focus of the lesson is briefly explained for the teacher. These procedures are based on an understanding of the latest research on pedagogical grammar and the role of language awareness and discovery in second-language learning. They illustrate how grammar can be taught through texts and provide teachers with principles they can apply in developing their own teaching materials and activities. The grammar explanations preceding each teaching plan provide a fresh look at English grammar drawing on work in systemic functional linguistics.

Rodney H. Jones is Associate Professor of English at City University of Hong Kong, prior to which he taught English for many years in China and Taiwan. His main research interest is discourse analysis, and he is co-editor of Discourse in Action: Introducing Mediated Discourse Analysis and Advances in Discourse Studies.
Graham Lock has taught English language and courses in English language teacher education in Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. He was an associate professor at the City University of Hong Kong until 2007, and he is the author of Functional English Grammar: An Introduction for Second Language Teachers (1996). He currently lives on an island, writes and teaches part time.