Craig Dodge - Blog

The other day, when I asked one of my groups what they thought of a new book we were using, they said they thought the grammar was too easy. I said, "Yeah, but do you know how to USE it?"  There is a big difference.

Most English instruction in Taiwan focuses on memorizing vocabulary, grammar rules and idioms. The teachers stand in front of the class, lecturing these things in Chinese while the students take notes and lots of multiple choice tests. They get little or no practice actually communicating in English (listening, speaking, writing). The result, therefore, is that students are familiar with, or at least recognize some complicated English, but they don't know how to use it. Many find it very difficult to express themselves. English learners here can recognize much more than they can use.

So this is where I come in.

The main benefit to taking an English speaking class with a native English speaker is NOT to study more grammar, but get practice using it. I act as a bridge to get you from the language you can understand to language you can use. This is best accomplished if we start with language that you easily recognize and not rush into language that you don't. This way you can focus on putting your thoughts into words. Otherwise, you will focus on trying to learn the more difficult grammar and not how to express yourself in English. After learners master using the easier language with which they are already familiar, then we can move on to more difficult language.

My suggestion to English learners, therefore, is to focus less on studying complicated grammar rules and more on communicating. The grammar will come, and you will make more progress in being able to express yourself.