Why is Grammar Important?

I’ve had some students ask me, “Can you teach me to speak Spanish without grammar?”. And the short answer is no. Grammar has had a bad reputation in the past few years because most people see it as a boring, complex and tedious subject. But grammar doesn’t have to be boring or tedious. It is a bit complex, but I try to leave the complexities of the subject up to the linguists. Grammar is important because it’s the backbone of any language. It provides you with the structure you need to organize and send your messages and ideas across.

There are some language programs that advertise a communication emphasis without any grammar instruction. These programs usually focus on the repetition of phrases and words until the student has memorized them. The problem with these programs is that they limit you when it comes to creating your own ideas and thoughts. You can only use what you have previously memorized, but you cannot create new phrases, new words – your own sentences. Conversational programs are great for advanced learners who have a good grammatical foundation, but not for beginners or intermediate students. After all, you are humans, not parrots.

Programs that only focus on grammar without any practical application also fail their students. These programs create great linguists, but fail to create language users. The students who graduate from these programs will know the rules for using a particular tense, but will not know how to apply that tense when speaking to others.

The best approach seems to be one that combines grammatical concepts with a practical application. I can teach you how to ask for coffee at a restaurant, but what I really want to teach you is the ability to ask for coffee, juice, a sandwich, or even a job at that restaurant. A grammatical basis is very important, but only if you understand how to use it and apply it when speaking, listening, reading or writing in your target language.

Denisse Romero
dromero@macquil.com