Reading and Writing

[english grammar man]

Grammar Out Vocabulary In

There is, of course, no "natural" approach to the teaching of reading and writing a second language.

Although oral communication is the most common goal in the ESL classroom, most students still wish to read and write the language they study.

Reading and writing provide opportunities to expand the topics of conversation, thereby facilitating vocabulary acquisition, and to reinforce both the learning and acquisition processes.

It should be noted that if vocabulary acquisition is emphasized instead of grammar, the student is able to read simple prose after only a few weeks of study. Likewise, real compositions are possible much earlier if the student is not judged on the basis of grammar.