Syllabus requirements to grammatical minimum selection

The content of teaching grammaris fixed in a syllabus. The content is understood as a definite set of knowledge and a definite level of development of grammatical habits and skills. Teaching grammar content comprises morphology and syntax, grammar material organised as grammar rules, models and patterns (structures) and practical use of this material providing the formation of grammatical habits and skills. It should be stressed that the main content of teaching grammar is not a linguistic system of grammar, but grammatical habits and skills in relation to corresponding theoretical knowledge. Thus, grammar-teaching pointsare:

1) the habits of constructing speech grammatical structures;

NB 2) grammatical generalisations formed on the basis of acquiring grammar

theory in the process of language activity.

In accordance with a joint syllabus of teaching foreign languages in a secondary school grammar material for the 2^nd - 9^th forms is meant for teaching speaking and listening comprehension within the range of recommended topics. A student should master this material for oral usage as well as for reading. In the 10^th – 12^th grades students should get acquainted with grammar items, or phenomena, which they have to recognise and understand while reading. Even the wording of the titles for grammatical themes in the syllabus is aimed at the speech usage of grammar, but not at memorising rules. For example, there are the following grammatical items for the 2^nd grade:

- acquiring ‘to be/ to have’ verbal structures;

- acquiring ‘It is...’ grammatical construction;

- acquiring structures with verbs in the present simple and present progressive tenses;

- acquiring structures including the modal verbs ‘can’, ‘may’, ‘must’;

- expressing the singular/ plural of nouns.

The main peculiarity of a school syllabus is the acquisition of morphology being subject to the syntax acquired. It is recommended to practise word formation within syntactical structures. It is stressed in the programme that a teaching process must be conducted on the oral basis. The latter means that grammar material (comprehensible grammar input) is initially presented and practised orally. The share of oral activities gradually lessens at the senior stage.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-13