Grammar as a Fundamental Aspect in Teaching the French Language to Students of Non-Linguistic Specialties

Abstract

Grammar as a teaching aspect holds a special place in foreign language education. This is a section of linguistics that studies the patterns according to which words are changed and combined to form meaningful statements. The formation of grammatical knowledge and the acquisition of communicative and cognitive competence in teaching French is a long process that ensures the development of reading, speaking, listening, and writing skills, the non-observance of whose laws results in the language losing its meaning. Due to these circumstances, for the design of a speech act it is essential to explore grammar as the main aspect in comprehending the French language, which is an urgent problem of our research. In our opinion, the inevitability of mastering grammatical theory is indisputable and time-tested. The article provides brief information on the origin of the French language, materials on evolutionary shifts in grammatical structure, as well as on the use of the comparative method in teaching the language. The study describes the practice of using generally accepted teaching methods employing exercises for working out certain grammatical phenomena, combined with the implementation of a communicative activity approach, which contribute to the development of students’ mental function. To improve the students’ grammatical speech skill, the expediency of activating dialogue and monologue statements, of creating communication situations, and of conducting role-playing and business games is shown. The article also describes the practice of referring to authentic language materials. Of considerable importance in teaching French grammar are various forms of testing for intermediate and final control.