Traditional or Functional Grammar

                        Learning a second language takes so much effort and hard work to fully attain language acquisition. Way back to elementary days, it was full of fun and learning English language in school through the patience of teachers and participation of pupils. My English language learning experience during my early grade wasn’t easy because I could not easily figure it out the parts of speech used to the particular sentences, but through time and effort I learned it from my English teachers. They used a lot of visual aids such as flash cards, text books, and they even provide us learning materials that we could bring it in our respective homes to read and master every text such as different types of fictional and non-fictional stories.

                      I believe, my teachers used traditional grammar in teaching English language when I was in elementary because they taught the prescriptive rules and concepts about the structure of language. They commonly taught the different parts of speech which learners will identify the proper usage of each part of speech in English language. Moreover, my elementary and high school teachers focused on how we are going apply correct words to a sentence with correct labelled parts of speech based on the prescription for Standard English sentences. For instance, there are selected words or sentences written on a chalkboard, and then we must identify which parts of speech were being used to a sentence or certain words. In that case, it enriches our vocabulary engaging the fundamental rules of English grammars and improved ourselves to speak up without any hesitation in committing mistakes such as mispronounced words, incorrect spelling, and grammatical errors inside the classroom. Learners have different abilities, beliefs, and personalities in all aspects. In learning environment, there are students who are good in writing but lack of speaking skills, there are pupils who are better in reading but cannot write. This actively illustrates that teachers must be flexible and enthusiast to deliver effective and efficient quality of education for learners. Just like our elementary English teacher did to our second language journey, she knew that we cannot learn something quickly or learn faster as they could that’s why she used different strategies in line with traditional grammar for us to gradually learn basic grammar rules, parts of speech, and kinds of sentences through the efforts in making and providing creative visual aids.

              Additionally, I think my English teachers both in early and middle school journey used traditional grammar because I think they saw our abilities that we cannot learn or attain the English language acquisition without dealing simple beginning on how to describe particular languages are used and could explain the nature of a second language. Thus, the traditional grammar that was being applied our English teachers during our early and middle school learning journey contributed a huge part in achieving second language acquisition.