Developing Poetry-based Grammar Teaching Materials

Abstract

Critics have been made regarding grammar teaching using the conventional Present-Practice-Production (PPP) approach. Second language acquisition research has also provided evidence that the above approach might not be the best approach to teach grammar, especially with now communicative competence being the goal of learning a foreign language. Despite the critics, many textbooks still adopt the PPP approach in grammar activities, leading the teacher to apply this method, as well. Therefore, this study aims at developing grammar materials that can provide grammar teaching with authenticity and encourage language awareness by adapting content-based instruction, in this case through a poem. Need analysis results from questionnaire and interview were used as a foundation to design the teaching materials. The result of this study offers ready-use a teaching material that is relatable, practical and authentic, developed based on target students’ need analysis. It may also help students study grammar focusing on meaning rather than form.Keywords: poetry, grammar, teaching materials.