Grammar Nonsense and What To Do about It

Hugh Dellar · Andrew Walkley

Wayzgoose Press

About this ebook

Do you hate teaching some aspects of grammar? Do you ever feel frustrated that your students just don’t get it? Well, in Grammar Nonsense, Andrew Walkley and Hugh Dellar argue that you shouldn’t really blame yourself. The fault lies largely with the way grammar rules and methods have been passed down through training and published material and become established as the way of doing things: a straightjacket that we need to escape from. 

Through an entertaining series of rants and meditations on all things grammatical, from the use of the word grammar to the horror of teaching verb patterns, they aim to pull apart rules which we give without thinking and to question approaches to practice that are seen as a must. 

Along the way, you’ll not only learn how published materials get written and about ideas such as the transformation fallacy and grammar olives, but you’ll also get plenty of practical suggestions as to what to do about all this nonsense.

Ratings and reviews

As a teacher, I can relate to the topics mentioned in this book and all the absurdity that surrounds these topics in the coursebooks sometimes. At the same time, I cannot agree with giving up syllabus whatsoever and going with the flow. I support the idea that these topics should be dealt with in a different way, however, I have not had enough suggestions from the authors about it. Anyway, it is a good and eye-opening rant most ESL teachers can relate to.

About the author

Hugh Dellar has over twenty-five years’ experience in ELT – English Language Teaching – and is the co-founder of the online school and training company Lexical Lab. He has co-authored two five-level General English series, Outcomes and Innovations, both published by National Geographic Learning, as well as one level of the high-school series Perspectives. His first methodology book, Teaching Lexically, came out via Delta Publishing in 2016. Most recently, he has worked on two levels of the new Pearson General English series, Roadmap. In addition, he is a life-long Arsenal supporter, obsessive hoarder of obscure 1960s vinyl, keen reader, and general bon viveur.

Andrew Walkley has been in ELT for 30 years now. He has worked in Spain as well as the UK and has conducted talks, workshops, and short courses in around 30 countries around the world. Outside of teaching he keeps fit through running, playing football, and long walks. He has an allotment where he grows vegetables – and a lot of weeds. He enjoys reading – both fiction (favourite author: Anne Tyler) and non-fiction. He cooks, he cleans, he watches TV, and he likes a kip in the afternoon.