ACADEMIC RESEARCH IN MODERN SCIENCE
International scientific-online conference
40
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF INSTRUCTIONS ON THE TOPIC OF
PRONOUNS IN THE BOOKS TITLED “MASTERING ENGLISH” AND
“STRUCTURE AND MEANING IN ENGLISH”
Laylokhon Khabibullaeva
MA TESOL graduate at Webster University in Tashkent
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13827376
Annotation:
Grammar is an essential part of teaching a foreign language,
especially English for elementary level learners. To successfully learn a new
language, instructions and explanations on certain grammar topics should be
suitable for the language students. This study compares two well-known
grammar books: “Mastering English” by Bache & Davidsen-Nielsen (1997) and
“Structure and Meaning in English” by Kennedy (2003) by considering their way
of expressing the topic “Pronouns”. The purpose of the study is to analyze and
determine which book is suitable to teach pronouns to elementary level Uzbek
learners.
Keywords
: Grammar topics, pronouns, instructions, elementary level,
structures.
Annotatsiya
: Grammatika chet tilini o'rgatishda, ayniqsa boshlang'ich
darajadagi ingliz tili o'rganuvchilari uchun juda muhimdir. Yangi tilni yaxshi
o'rganish uchun grammatik mavzular bo'yicha ko'rsatmalar va tushuntirishlar
til o'rganuvchilar darajasiga mos bo'lishi kerak. Ushbu tadqiqot "Mastering
English" (Bache va Davidsen-Nielsen, 1997) va "Structure and Meaning in
English" (Kennedy, 2003) kitoblarini "Olmoshlar" mavzusi bo'yicha taqqoslaydi.
Tadqiqotning maqsadi qaysi kitob boshlang'ich darajadagi o'zbek
o'rganuvchilarga olmoshlarni o'rgatishda yaxshiroq ekanligini aniqlashdir.
Tayanch so'zlar
: Grammatik mavzular, olmoshlar, ko'rsatmalar,
boshlang'ich daraja, strukturalar
Pronouns are a fundamental part of a language, as they help speakers to
avoid repetetions and redundancy. However, most learners find English
pronouns difficult to learn and use as they have similar forms and functions. In
order to find a well-planned explanation of the topic “Pronouns”, the teacher
should be able to consider students’ language levels, interests and cognitive
abilities as well. This study focuses on the information about two different
books’ quality, way of explaining the topic, terms used, and the suitability of the
given examples.
Methodology
Participant
ACADEMIC RESEARCH IN MODERN SCIENCE
International scientific-online conference
41
The participants of this study are 11 freshmen students who are aged
between 18-22 at Tashkent State University of Uzbek Language and Literature.
According to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), they are
at an elementary (A2) level. In terms of their grammar knowledge, they have a
basic understanding of the rules and structures but have difficulties using them
in their speeches.
The students are native speakers of Uzbek, which is widely spoken there as
their first language (L1).They probably have different socioeconomic origins, but
they have in common shared educational experience and cultural background.
They are not very confident in their use of English vocabulary and grammar
rules because they are just starting out. Although they may have previously
studied some English in school, they are still getting to know the language. While
some students prefer it when teachers teach grammar in a more implicit
manner, others prefer it when teachers provide examples and a clear
explanation of grammar rules.
It's important to use mixed methods to help them improve their language
levels. We usually have lessons where we discuss grammar rules and do
exercises, but we can also practice using English in real-life situations, like
having discussions or doing role-plays. As they have a clear understanding of a
language structure and system, they can easily analyze and differentiate certain
rules in English, which leads to faster learning of grammar.
Materials
I used e-versions of the books:
1.
Mastering English: an advanced grammar for non-native and native
speakers
by
Bache & Davidsen-Nielsen (1997)
2.
Structure and meaning in English
by Kennedy (2003)
Procedure:
I analyzed the sections on pronouns in both books. While analyzing, I
evaluated the explanations, exercises, and examples provided. After that, I
implemented lessons based on each book with the target learners and gathered
feedback.
Grammar Topic Exploration
Pronouns in "Mastering English" describes pronouns using the term
"pronominals" and provides detailed, theoretical explanations of pronoun use,
including syntax and reference in clauses. Furthermore, it presents complex
structures, making it more suited for advanced learners.
ACADEMIC RESEARCH IN MODERN SCIENCE
International scientific-online conference
42
Pronouns in "Structure and Meaning in English" offer simpler explanations,
using charts and tables to aid comprehension. It includes practical exercises and
contextual examples, which are more accessible to A2-level learners.
Results and Discussions
While observing the topic “Pronouns” from the books “Structure and
Meaning in English” by Kennedy (2003) and «Mastering English: an advanced
grammar for non-native and native speakers » by Bache & Davidsen-Nielsen
(1997), I realized some similarities and distinct features of them.
Although both books have used the term “Pronouns”, in the book «Mastering
English» there is a term “Pronominals” used to generalize the topic. According to
this book, “Pronominals are pronouns or pronouns groups”. In terms of sub-
groups of pronouns, the same terms and divisions have been used by two
authors.
The feature that makes Kennedy(2003)’s book different from Bache &
Davidsen-Nielsen (1997)’s work is that he provided special exercises and tasks
for each unit and at the end of the themes there are several topics to discuss to
check understanding.
Another important point about the book “Structure and meaning in
English”, it includes example sentences that are simple and easy to understand.
Moreover, the authors presented the topic “Pronoun” in terms of person, gender,
case and number. But Bache & Davidsen-Nielsen (1997) described it more
widely, especially by considering its syntax, reference and usage features.
Furthermore, they also provided information about the use of pronouns in
clauses, and their differences in meaning.
One more significant distinction in their work is that they explained each
sub-group and each pronoun in a thorough and detailed way, by giving examples
for each. Their work seems a bit complicated and theoretical, as main parts are
presented in a paragraph format. Unlike their work, Kennedy (2003) used
graphs and tables to express ideas, which makes his work more comprehensible
and easy to follow.
Overall, differences between the two books might include how deeply they
explain pronouns, how they organize their content, the examples they use, which
aspects of pronouns they focus on, and who they're written for. "Structure and
Meaning in English" covers common topics and can be for both native and non-
native speakers, while " Mastering English: an Advanced Grammar for Non-
native and Native Speakers " might focus on more theoretical aspects of
ACADEMIC RESEARCH IN MODERN SCIENCE
International scientific-online conference
43
pronouns. As the learner are just at A2 level, I would prefer using “Structure and
Meaning in English” by Kennedy(1997).
Conclusion
For EFL students at an elementary level, selecting grammar materials that
balance theoretical knowledge with practical exercises is crucial. “Structure and
Meaning in English” is the more effective resource for teaching pronouns, as it
aligns better with the learning needs of A2 learners.
Future research could involve a larger sample of students and cover additional
grammar topics to further ensure these findings.
References:
1.
Bache, C., & Davidsen-Nielsen, N. (1997). Mastering English: an advanced
grammar for non-native and native speakers. Mouten de Gruyter
2.
Kennedy, G. (2003). Structure and meaning in English. Pearson Education
Limited
