English, Language and Literacy 3 to 19: Grammar and Knowledge about Language

This booklet welcomes grammar teaching which is pitched at an appropriate level for the age and intellectual maturity of learners, and which introduces learners to grammatical concepts and terminology in the context of authentic and pleasure-giving texts. However, it insists that competence in language is prior to analysis of language, and respects the substantial body of research which has shown that grammar teaching consisting of decontextualised drills and exercises brings no benefit in terms of competence in writing.