The student sees a grammar book and closes the door. Arguing will not open it. Instead, put grammar inside something they want to say, and say nothing about rules.
Start with the message
Ask what they want to say, and build the grammar around it.
I want to say my weekend was good.
Give the sentence, not the rule
Show the sentence. Use it. Let the pattern grow quietly.
My weekend was good. I went to the park.
Use their life
Grammar with their own words is easier to keep.
My phone is broken. I need a new one.
Correct by repeating
Say the sentence correctly, and let them say it again. No rule, no lecture.
Name the rule last
After they can use it, give the rule a name. Then it is a label for something they know.
That was the past tense. You already use it.
Keep it short
Five minutes of grammar, inside a conversation. Not a page of exercises.
Words to remember
- grammar — the rules for putting words together
- pattern — a shape you can use again
- rule — a guide for how to do something
- repeat — to say again
Questions & answers
Q: Should I skip grammar completely?
No. Hide it in speech first, then name it. Students need both.
Q: What if the student asks for a rule?
Give a small one, with two examples. Then go back to speaking.
Q: Are exercises useless?
They help some students. Use a few, not a page. Always finish with speaking.
Q: How do I teach past tense this way?
Tell a story about yesterday. Then ask for their story. The tense appears by itself.
Q: What if the student still refuses?
Respect it for now. Work on speaking and vocabulary, and return to grammar next month.