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Self study grammar practice: learners' views and preferences
Alan Fortune is a Senior Lecturer in English Language Teaching at the Polytechnic of West London at Ealing. He holds an MSc in Applied Linguistics from Edinburgh University, and has worked in Sweden and Indonesia. His current work includes both the pre- and in-service training of English language teachers on the Polytechnic's 'MA in English Language Teaching' and other courses for British and overseas teachers. He also works extensively with undergraduate learners. His current research concerns individual learner differences in approaches to grammar learning. His other interests include cultural studies, syllabus design, and teaching and assessing advanced learners.
This is a report of a piece of action research which sought students' views on different types of self-study grammar practice exercises. Firstly, a set of defining characteristics of grammar exercises were identified and a battery containing a range of such exercises compiled. The exercises exhibited different clusters of characteristics, and were of both a deductive and inductive nature. Learners attempted the battery and then evaluated the different exercises. Their views were elicited by questionnaire and group interview. The experience of doing the exercises caused a significant number of learners to change their opinions about inductive and deductive practice. The investigation also tried to discover which exercise characteristics the learners found motivating and demotivating, thus providing potentially useful information for teachers and materials writers. Possibly fruitful areas for further investigation were identified.