廖芳
【Abstract】Grammar is the guiding rules of language, and a good mastery of grammar is the basis of English learning. This paper starts from the problems in college students current grammar learning and put forwards some strategies to improve their English grammar.
【Key words】college students; grammar; countermeasures
1. Introduction
Grammar is one of the three elements of language, guiding the practice of language. Learning English grammar- English language rules is indispensable for Chinese students. But in colleges, students are much too guided to pass tests while ignoring the importance of grammar, so it is high time to call for both the students and the teachers to pay enough attention to grammar learning and teaching in colleges. This paper analyzes the problems existing in college students grammar learning and puts forwards some strategies to improve their English grammar level.
2. Problems of college students grammar learning
Many problems are encountered in the process of grammar learning and these problems greatly blocks college students learning of grammar.
Ignorance of the importance of grammar
Currently many students think that grammar is unimportant and useless in English learning and they believe that they can learn English well by mere practice and communication. They dont pay equal attention to grammar as they pay to texts or tests. And sometimes teachers also fail to explain to the students the English rules so that the students frequently make mistakes in their writing and speaking.
Lack of interest and confidence in grammar
“I dont like grammar” is the most frequent sentence the author hear from the students when the author tries to emphasize the importance of grammar to them. “Im poor at grammar” is the second frequent answer said by the students, which functions nothing but an excuse for the mistakes they frequently make. So lack of interest and confidence greatly hinders college students grammar learning.
Negative influence of mother language
There are great differences between English and Chinese languages, especially in terms of grammar. Having little knowledge about the difference between the two language rules, students easily fall in thinking in Chinese mode and thus make Chinglish mistakes. Thats the negative influence of ones mother language on the acquisition of a second language.
The problems summarized above are the three main causes which blocks the college students grammar learning. How to cope with these problems to improve the grammar level of the college students?The following part offers some strategies.
3. Strategies to improve college students grammar learning
To improve college students grammar learning need the joint efforts of both the teachers and the students. Based on the problems summarized above, some strategies are put forward here.
Provoking students interest and building their confidence in grammar
Interest in the best teacher and confidence is the most well-known power of positive thinking. For the teachers, the first thing they need to do for the students is to arouse their interest in grammar and make them believe that they can learn it well. Teachers shouldnt emphasize the mistakes the students make but praise them while they make correct sentences. In this way the students can be greatly motivated to learn grammar.
Creating English speaking environments
In grammar teaching, teachers can also create some role-play scenes to encourage students to use what they have learnt. Teachers can encourage students to make conversations that relate to the real life such as self-introduction, interview and shopping to deepen their understanding of grammar.
Combining grammar exercise with writing and communication
Learning grammar is anything but an independent task. Writing is a perfect method to correct ones grammatical errors, because students have to work upon everything when they write, such as wording and sentence-making. Through writing, students can apply what they learn into practice and consolidate their knowledge about grammar. Communication practice is another good way to improve ones grammar. Communication is the process of sending and receiving massage and is one of the most ideal ways to make use of what one has learnt about grammar.
Avoiding Chinese thinking model
Influenced by mother language, many students dont think in English mode but in Chinese mode. For most of them, writing or speaking is all about translation, so Chinglish sentence frequently appear in their writing or speaking. For instance, students are usually saying “cut ones hair”, not knowing the correct English expression is “have ones hair cut”. To learn English correctly, students have to adapt themselves to English thinking model. Once one gets used to thinking in English way, he can make great progress in English learning.
4. Conclusion
Through the analysis of the problems existing in college students grammar leaning, it is hoped that this essay can provide some enlightments for the improvement of college students English learning.