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EVANNA DEVI GS45283 |

ASSIGNMENT 1 : REVIEW OF RESEARCH ARTICLE

GRAMMAR INSTRUCTIONS

Assignment I : Review Of Research Article

NAME : EVANNA DEVI SEYAPALAN

IC NUMBER : 911026135358

MATRIC CARD NUM. : GS 45283

SUBJECT : GRAMMAR INSTRUCTIONS

SUBJECT CODE : EDU 5259

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EVANNA DEVI GS45283 |

ASSIGNMENT 1 : REVIEW OF RESEARCH ARTICLE

Approaches and procedures for teaching grammar written by Handoyo Puji Widodo is a
study conducted in Indonesia. It was published in English Teaching: Practice and Critique and is
somewhat an article seen as ambitious in that its primary focus is on approaches and procedures
for teaching grammar which is so widely varied that it is perceived to be infinite. Below is an
analysis and review of the research article chosen.

1.0 ARTICLE SUMMARY

Widodo (2006) in his article explained how grammar has gain its dominance in language
teaching and particularly in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and English as a Second
Language (ESL). This summary serves to provide abridged version of the research article that is
being reviewed.

It is made clear in the introduction that without good grasp of grammar, the development
of a language learner would coerce. The researcher claims that the teaching of grammar should
put utmost attention to grammatical items and sentence patterns as grammar is the fundamental
foundation to all four skills in the learning of English language. In addition, the Widodo also
highlighted how grammar is crucial in each skill namely listening and speaking, reading as well
as writing. Grammars importance in vocabulary grasp is without a doubt an area of focus.
Widodo (2006) focuses several aspects in his research article which includes procedures used in
teaching grammar items. This article is of greater value as the researcher also proposed a five
step procedure while incorporating the notions of practice and consciousness-raising, explicit and
implicit knowledge and deductive and inductive approaches in the teaching of grammar. In
addition, all relevant theories that lay the foundation of these notions were also intricate in both
table forms and in comprehensible words. The flow of the article is seen to progress from
practice and consciousness reading, explicit and implicit knowledge as well as two core
approaches in grammar presentation. Before moving on to the 5 steps procedure that were
proposed, the write outlined 4 main concerns that led to the development of the 5 steps
procedure. This 5 steps procedure was developed on the basis of relevant SLA theories which are
related to acquisition as well as learning of language. All these were later linked to the 5 step
procedure that was proposed by the writer.

These 5 step procedure includes :

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ASSIGNMENT 1 : REVIEW OF RESEARCH ARTICLE

i) Building up students; knowledge of the rule or rule initiation

ii) Eliciting functions of the rule or ruler elicitation.

iii) familiarising students with the rule in use through exercise or rule practice.

iv) checking students comprehension or rule activation; and

v) expanding students knowledge or rule enrichment.

Each step was defined and substantiated by pertinent tables and explanations.
Advantages and disadvantages of these proposed steps were also highlighted and included 8
advantages and 4 disadvantages altogether. The article is tied up with a simple conclusion on
what is the most crucial thing for a teacher in teaching grammar a. Widodo (2006) concluded by
positing that teachers should provide opportunity for students to be able to produce
grammatically correct sentences syntactically and semantical

2.0 ARTICLE REVIEW

2.1 Content

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EVANNA DEVI GS45283 |

ASSIGNMENT 1 : REVIEW OF RESEARCH ARTICLE

The first impression and the reason that led to why this article was chosen was made
based on the title of the research article. With a direct and clear research title, it makes it easier to
reach consumers to see if this research article could serve as a form of reference for them. This
research article, if found suitable could be used by other researchers as references.

Upon analysing the content, this research article is seen to have an in depth introduction
section in which many citations and references are being used to substantiate what the writer had
to convey. The article is illustrated initially by focusing on the notion of practice and
consciousness raising which was well elaborated with relevant references.

The dominant purpose of this article seems to be to convince the reader that the priority
of teaching grammar is to assist learners to internalise the structures/rules of language, that can
be used for both written and spoken. (Ellis, 2002) This leading purpose led to the sumptuous
elaboration that claimed practice as one of the keys to learning incorporated into methodology
with 4 evident features. This is seen to be a well described and relevant idea as it is based on
Ellis, 2002) and is undoubtedly aligned to the main context of the study. The claim on how this is
generally accepted as it facilitated accuracy and fluency should however be substantiated with
relevant literature to ensure validity of claims made by the writer.

The references used are also aligned with the research study area. However, the
introduction section was not well divided in which a reader would have to assume that the first
two pages of the write up are both the introduction and the background of the study. However,
the correspondence between approaches and procedures and the teaching of grammar is
introduced in this section and this had indirectly drive the readers attention to the main focus of
the article. The hole that is seen in the introduction section of this article would have been its
information that are not well separated.

Objectives of study are important elements that should not be missed as it is the drive that
keeps the research going. However, throughout the 20 pages article written, there were no clear
and concise objectives that were highlighted. The objectives of the study were only made aware
once a reader reads and analyses the article thoroughly and this to me a great loop hole of the
article. It would be great if the writer conveys the research objectives clearly as it would help
readers to be in track of what the drive of the journal article is about.

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ASSIGNMENT 1 : REVIEW OF RESEARCH ARTICLE

The background of what the research article is about is exemplified in depth as the
theoretical positions are explored thoroughly and central elements of what encompasses the
research area was discussed. In the background section of the research article, the central element
of the research was introduced implicitly. The researcher clearly propose a five step procured in
teaching grammar that he has developed. These steps and procedure incorporates the notions of
common ESL practices. This 5 steps procedure was developed based on the findings of teachers
perception on grammar teaching as well students responses to how it is being taught. There was
not much elaboration on the findings that were made though the basis of the procedure were
based on this. In depth elaboration and explanation were however put forth on the notions that
became the backbone of the procedure developed by Widodo.

2.3 Further Research

Widodos article provides a comprehensive review of past ideas of teaching grammar that
has led him to creating and developing the 5 steps procedure. He presented interesting findings
from the authors own thorough study of the approaches in teaching grammar with regards to
replacing these common approaches to the new procedure he has planned. However, the
Widodos failure to explain findings in concise terms and provide real world examples renders
this article less accessible to lay audiences who are nevertheless stakeholders in the world of
education especially in English Language.

There were no explanations or suggestion on amendments that the writer wishes to make
in future researchers. This to me is a vast flaw as it is crucial for any research, especially new
profound methods to have suggestions of improvement to allow future research to be of greater
value and validity at the same time to avoid making similar mistakes twice. Personally, I believe
that additional research is needed in different classroom settings to see if there would be
consistent findings about the 5 steps procedure that was developed.

2.4 Conclusion

On the surface, the simple conclusion was seen to be written in an orderly manner. It was
in lined with the issues that were earlier highlighted in the introduction section. It is seen that this
was a very in-depth research project, particularly for a journal article. For the most part, it was

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ASSIGNMENT 1 : REVIEW OF RESEARCH ARTICLE

well written and well organised. However, there was indeed a definite need for a short review of
literature to develop the article into a more reliable source of reference. Clearer depiction of
what the research objective/(s) are is also vital in order for both readers and other researchers to
identify if the study has met its objectives set.

Furthermore, Widodo (2006) presented convincingly on the ultimate goal of teaching


grammar in the conclusion. It appears, though, that Widodos primary goal was to persuade the
readers that grammar teaching should be all about experiencing and opportunity. He positioned
opinions as facts, and conveyed an undercurrent of judgement that the article can be accepted as
part of a task rather than being accepted as an objective, scholarly treatment of a legitimate
professional concern. Overall, it was a very interesting topic which could leave significant
contribution to the field of educational research. Though there were clear errors in several
sections of the article, it could definitely be improved by future researchers or other research
consumers.

3.0 OVERALL OVERVIEW

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