AWEJ Volume.4 Number.2, 2013 Pp.122-136
Teaching the Regular and the Irregular Verbs through a Cultural-based Literary Discourse in an ESL Grammar Classroom
Ream Fathi Odetallah
Al Ain University of Science and Technology
United Arab Emirates
Abstract
This paper provides examples of learning the two forms of the past simple tense through literature that expose pragmatic learning outcomes without the need of grammatical rules during the early to mid-learning stages. Simultaneously, the learners get to learn the English culture, which broadens their perceptions of the language since culture and language are intertwined with one another. Taken as an account, the popular English story, Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, provides useful examples of exercises on the regular and irregular verbs, bringing language to the level of enjoyment to the learning experience. In addition, the learners would have the opportunity to appreciate the culture and civilization of the target language. To determine how these outcomes can be implemented in ESL classrooms, this paper manifests a new emergence of understanding literature by emphasizing on innovating challenging and enthusiastic teaching methodologies to extrinsically motivate today’s learners. Examples of the use of literature for teaching grammar in an ESL class are provided throughout the research.
Keywords: past simple tense, regular and irregular verbs, ESL learners, target language, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.