First, it is the function of grammar as a structural foundation of language skills. Grammar is regarded as a structural foundation of language skill because of an assumption which states that learning language skills is like build a building. Students have to build its foundation first before building its higher parts. If they do not make a strong foundation, the building will easily break and cannot be built into a higher one. The foundation of this building is grammar. So, to develop students‘ language skill, teacher needs to teach grammar since the teaching of grammar is so important for students as a foundation for their language skills.
Second, it is the existence of grammar in language curriculum. As a language element that is needed to develop and measure students‘ proficiency in English,grammar becomes to be a subject that has to be taught and tested in language curriculum. It is on the language curriculum whether students like it or not. They have to pass this subject in order to graduate and be considered as having enough proficiency in English. Consequently, grammar is a must and important to be learnt by students.
Third, it is the function of grammar as a sentence-making machine. Grammar becomes to be important for students because it can function as a sentence-making machine for them. It can describe the regularities of language behaviors and provide students with patterns to generate enormous number of new sentences. So, by knowing grammar students will be facilitated to produce new sentences.
Fourth, it is the function of grammar as a tool for language monitoring. Grammar enables students to self-monitor. It can assist students in becoming aware of a structure that they encounter and help them continue to notice it in subsequent encounters. Once students have internalized the structure through repeated exposure, they can use this knowledge to monitor their own language use. It then improves their proficiency in creating polish and acceptable English sentences. In short, knowing grammar can help students monitor their language use.
Last, it is the function of grammar to prevent students from fossilizing early. It is assumed that students who receive no grammar instruction seem to be at risk of fossilizing early because they cannot monitor their own language use. They will easily feel satisfied with their current ability. It then makes their language progress stop and fossilize early. Therefore, grammar is so needed to prevent students from fossilizing early.
To sum up, grammar is so important in language teaching and learning. It is because grammar functions as a structural foundation of language that enables students to develop their language skills. Consequently, grammar should be taught in language curriculum since it can function as a language-sentence machine for students because it describes the regularities of language behaviors so that students can use it as a pattern to make an enormous number of new sentences and help them monitor their language use. Finally, it will prevent them from fossilizing early.
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