Volume 03 Issue 10-2023
89
International Journal of Pedagogics
(ISSN
–
2771-2281)
VOLUME
03
ISSUE
10
P
AGES
:
89-94
SJIF
I
MPACT
FACTOR
(2021:
5.
705
)
(2022:
5.
705
)
(2023:
6.
676
)
OCLC
–
1121105677
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
ABSTRACT
The article analyzes "Understanding and Using English Grammar", one of the most well-known and effective grammar
textbooks for intermediate to advanced English students. Moreover, it demonstrates the results showing that
grammar methods are mixed with communication methods in the book, providing a framework for students to learn
and practice grammar in the context.
KEYWORDS
Grammar textbooks, concepts, contextualized language, background knowledge, self
–
discovery, communicative
activities, authentic topics.
INTRODUCTION
Understand
ing and Using English Grammar” by Betty
S. Azar & Stacy A. Hagen (2017) is one of the well-
known and effective grammar textbooks which is
suitable for teaching intermediate to advanced
students of English. I have been using this book for
teaching my Intermediate and Upper-Intermediate
level students. It worth noting that, while keeping the
same basic approaches and techniques as in previous
editions,
the
Fifth
Edition
includes
more
communicative and interactive activities. This program
includes the whole package for effective teaching
grammar : Student Book, Workbook, Chartbook,
Teacher’s Book and Companion Website.
Grammar as product
Research Article
TEACHING GRAMMAR IN CONTEXT
Submission Date:
October 19,2023,
Accepted Date:
October 24, 2023,
Published Date:
October 29, 2023
Crossref doi:
https://doi.org/10.37547/ijp/Volume03Issue10-17
Djumayeva Guli Tulkinovna
Kimyo International University in Tashkent, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Journal
Website:
https://theusajournals.
com/index.php/ijp
Copyright:
Original
content from this work
may be used under the
terms of the creative
commons
attributes
4.0 licence.
Volume 03 Issue 10-2023
90
International Journal of Pedagogics
(ISSN
–
2771-2281)
VOLUME
03
ISSUE
10
P
AGES
:
89-94
SJIF
I
MPACT
FACTOR
(2021:
5.
705
)
(2022:
5.
705
)
(2023:
6.
676
)
OCLC
–
1121105677
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
Regarding to the methodology, grammar-based
teaching approach was utilized in this textbook , to be
more precise, grammar methodology was blended
with communicative methods. As we know, grammar
is considered as a basement for any language use and
it should be taught so appropriately that students can
understand the language which they hear or see and
use their knowledge in their communication correctly.
Taking into account all of these, the textbook provides
a logical and natural framework for students to learn
and practice the grammar of English in a context rather
than just a collection of rules. Moreover, the activities
are mostly meaning-based and students can learn
concepts practicing them step-by-step. A wide range
of thematic activities and exercises in the book gives
learners a great opportunity for contextualized
language use. It helps them to understand why and
how certain forms or structures are used in various
situations.
In addition, noticing activities are also included in most
of the lessons before the formal instruction. For
instance, in chapter 5: Subject-Verb Agreement there
is given a table with some words and students are
asked to find whether they are singular or plural and
nouns or verbs.
As we know learners can not be forced to do noticing
tasks, while oppositely they can do it when they feel
that they are ready for it or have enough background
knowledge. According to Ryan (2001), learners
Volume 03 Issue 10-2023
91
International Journal of Pedagogics
(ISSN
–
2771-2281)
VOLUME
03
ISSUE
10
P
AGES
:
89-94
SJIF
I
MPACT
FACTOR
(2021:
5.
705
)
(2022:
5.
705
)
(2023:
6.
676
)
OCLC
–
1121105677
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
extract from the available information around them
the regularities that form into their knowledge system
and in this case noticing activities help teachers to
make their students aware of some of these patterns .
He also adds that if students have an awareness of
them, then ultimately their pattern detector might
function a bit more efficiently.
The sample activity which was given above guides
students to discover the grammar rule by themselves
and it is also called consciousness-raising task. In
fact, there was given so much emphasis on self
–
discovery by the learner. One example for this could
be the exercise № 1, in Chapter 7:Articles. In this
activity learners are required to match the
explanation to the sentence it describes. The
explanations are: a specific gift, gifts in general and
one, gift, but not specific. According to their meaning
students can find the right sentence which they
describe and discover a rule about the usage of
definite or indefinite articles in contexts. After that a
brief explanation of the grammar rule is given.
It should be noted that, clearly and well-designed
grammar explanations in each chapter give students
an opportunity to understand the grammar of the
target language faster and better. Because, all of
them are strengthened with real examples.
Grammar as process
Having analyzed the textbook, I found that in
most lessons there were given a lot of opportunity for
the learners to express themselves effectively by
doing various communicative activities. As we know,
in process teaching students are required not only to
discover the rules by themselves but also to use the
language for self-
expression. Here each student’s own
personalities and attitudes are taken into account. For
Volume 03 Issue 10-2023
92
International Journal of Pedagogics
(ISSN
–
2771-2281)
VOLUME
03
ISSUE
10
P
AGES
:
89-94
SJIF
I
MPACT
FACTOR
(2021:
5.
705
)
(2022:
5.
705
)
(2023:
6.
676
)
OCLC
–
1121105677
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
example, the exercise № 3, in chapter 2 is one of the
effective communicative activities in this textbook. In
this activity students are asked to work in pairs and
ask from each other questions on given situations
using the question structure “ How long have you…”.
In this process learners can practice the grammar
knowledge which they gained about Perfect
Progressive tense answering questions from their
point of view.
In terms of preparation, teachers using this book do
not need to prepare extra materials from the internet
or others. Because, each lesson is rich in authentic
topics and suitable texts for students’ practice the
language. Mostly students are familiar with the topics
which were used in this textbook. The activities are
focused on discussing the issues which students are
facing or have enough background knowledge. For
instance: a) About the negative Impact of Social
Media on Children and Teens; b) About the learners’
personal interests or preferences c) About vacation or
others. These factors make the activities and the
whole textbook authentic and reliable for students to
learn the grammar of the target language.
Volume 03 Issue 10-2023
93
International Journal of Pedagogics
(ISSN
–
2771-2281)
VOLUME
03
ISSUE
10
P
AGES
:
89-94
SJIF
I
MPACT
FACTOR
(2021:
5.
705
)
(2022:
5.
705
)
(2023:
6.
676
)
OCLC
–
1121105677
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
Grammar as skill
As reflection activities there were provided a wide range exercises such writing journal entries using certain tenses
or writing some paragraphs about a website using expressions of quantity.
These activities help learners to reflect on what they
learnt and produce them in different types of
writings. Moreover, for completing reading, listening
and writing activities grammar rules and structures
play vital role in this book. Each of them require
students to use certain grammar forms or rules which
were explained at the beginning of the lesson. By
doing this students will have an opportunity to
understand the meaning of those rules or forms and
use them in a context.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, as this grammar textbook is the
latest (5ht edition) and modernized version among its
series, in my opinion it has no less satisfactory areas.
However, the Azar-Hagen Grammar Series is
absolutely course neutral. It can be linked with other
s
kills books such as “New Headway” or “Solutions” to
deliver more grammar practice. Moreover, the
exercises in this books are calibrated to the
appropriate level, and the content has been carefully
crafted to avoid vocabulary and structures that might
be too challenging. Also, plenty of exercises across a
wide range of grammar topics provide extensive
opportunities for students to practice. I have found
this grammar textbook very useful and would strongly
recommend to my colleagues too.
Volume 03 Issue 10-2023
94
International Journal of Pedagogics
(ISSN
–
2771-2281)
VOLUME
03
ISSUE
10
P
AGES
:
89-94
SJIF
I
MPACT
FACTOR
(2021:
5.
705
)
(2022:
5.
705
)
(2023:
6.
676
)
OCLC
–
1121105677
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
REFERENCE
1.
Azar, B. S & Hagen, S. A. (2017). Understanding
and using English Grammar(5th ed.). Pearson
Education.
2.
Ryan, Kevin. (2001). Interview With Rod Ellis. ELT
News Online Journal, 37 paragraphs.
3.
Retrieved from
http://www/eltnews.com/features/interviews/015_
rod_ellis1.shtml
