Grammar as Choice for Literacy Development by Prof Debra Myhill & Dr Christine Xavier

[ELL Talks and Seminars]

Grammar as Choice for Literacy Development by Prof Debra Myhill & Dr Christine Xavier

Debates over the role of grammar instruction in literacy development have abounded over the years. In the first half of this webinar, Professor Emerita Debra Myhill will provide an overview of the changing view of the role of grammar and metalinguistic understanding in teaching writing.  Drawing on international research, and a cumulative series of studies conducted over 15 years at the University of Exeter, Debra will outline the idea of grammar as choice and how it can support young writers in becoming empowered authors.

In the second half of the webinar, Dr Christine Xavier will illustrate, through an action research project on contextualised teaching of grammar as choice conducted in several schools in Singapore, how this approach to grammar instruction supports literacy development, specifically writing development. She will also share how such contextualised grammar teaching within a writing classroom may benefit both students and teachers.

About ELL Talks and Seminars:
The ELL Talks and Seminars series is a curated collection of talks featuring linguists, language and literature researchers, hosted by the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, English Language and Literature Department. Explore how these experts delve into the structure of languages, the diverse ways we use language, and the practical application of such theories to shape the teaching and learning of the English language and literature in schools.