Going in the Right Direction

When we learn or do anything new or unfamiliar, we automatically fall back on what we already know. It's a powerful strategy, but not without risk. Imagine taking your car from continental Europe to England - or the other way round. What would be crucial for driving safely on those foreign roads?

I remember my first time as a motorist in England. Driving on the left-hand side wasn't even a real problem. My automatic reflexes at roundabouts or in right-of-way situations were.

I distinctly remember leaving a parking spot and finding myself on the wrong side of the road. Luckily, there was no other traffic, but you get my point. Adapting to a foreign situation with foreign rules always requires special attention.

So the term foreign language should already be a warning and raise some red flags. Different rules apply. Dissimilar basic structures are confusing because they go against your native reflexes.?

Differences matter

I didn't think twice about the similarities between driving in England and driving on the continent, nor would you. Just so, similarities between languages don't usually require much attention. If only speaking English were as easy as speaking any other language but with different words.

It's always the structural differences that matter most. So when learning English as a foreign language, it doesn't make much sense to rely on native reflexes and familiar structures.

Less is more

With that in mind, why waste time and energy on explicit grammar instruction unless it addresses the most vital structural differences that define the English language? If you're in danger of driving on the wrong side of the road, all other traffic rules are secondary at best.

Of course, it's only fair that English teachers know more about the language and its grammar than their students - otherwise, who'd need them? But why should they pour?all?of that knowledge into language learners? Especially when it comes to grammar, less is more!

Two basics, one direction

So let's prioritise what matters most and focus on the two structural features that define English: its basic word order and its use of tenses. I firmly believe that, not unlike driving on the correct side of the road, these two make an essential difference.?

Luckily, there happens to be one mnemonic that covers both and leads learners in the right direction. SvVOPT rules!

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grammarCORE/GrammarBob's continuing mission: to boldly go where no grammar has gone before and make essential English grammar easy for all

grammarCORE: I help English language teachers discover how a radically new approach to grammar will empower them and their students

For those unfamiliar with SvVOPT: Subject - Verbs - Object - Place - Time

[original image by Yeshi Kangrang on Unsplash]