Hello you gorgeous teacher!

Let’s face it: grammar can be boring, unproductive, and unengaging.

And more importantly, it doesn’t always convert into language production.

In fact, the biggest complaint I hear from teachers is that students study grammar year after year and can’t have a conversation.

That’s because we’re teaching them in the wrong way.

Rules aren’t always enough

Sometimes students can’t see a way to connect it to their own lives and make it relevant....

..which means they don't remember, learn or might feel a lack of progress, especially when it comes to natural, spoken English.

This is where we come in.

We need to face a truth: grammar and vocabulary are connected: you can't have one without the other.

By focusing on those common phrases and real-life structures, students can gain personal meaning from them and will gain a bank useful chunks of language. 

These chunks are far easier to recall, especially if connections with emotions, feelings and experiences are made in class while experimenting with the language: getting students to finish these phrases with their own truths is far better than asking them to produce prescribed sentences.

With this cheat sheet, I give you 7 ways to practice common grammar points and structures within the framework of every day conversation so you can enjoy:

• Low to no prep

• A lot more language generated by the students which is MEANINGFUL and RELEVANT

• A focus is more on chunks of language rather than the grammar 

Why is it mindful grammar?

The suggestions I make are based around the concepts of positivity, reflection, sharing with classmates and being present.

Sharing builds trust and community, which enables a safer and a more 'can do' learning environment.

I suggest you tailor the examples I give for your students: use this document as a starting point, use what you know about your students, unleash your creativity and come up with your own ideas.