The Importance of Grammar in ELT

Abstract

With the advent of the Communicative Approach in ELT, grammar has been marginalized as the focus has shifted from accuracy to communicative competence. Yet an obvious decline in written proficiency has been noticed due basically to poor grammar. If a high written proficiency is required at the academic level, could this be achieved without grammar instruction in the foreign language? This paper will investigate on this issue by addressing the following questions: (i) To Teach or Not to Teach Grammar: a Controversy? (ii) How to Teach Grammar: Is there a miraculously effective method? What are the implications on the Grammar-Writing interdependence?.