I am curious how much study of grammar people do.
I imagine the answer depends on what level one is at. So an A1 level would have more grammar study than a C1.
But how much of your time is proportionately given to grammar as opposed to reading, oral input, and writing?
After reaching C1+ is there need for grammar study?
And how did you learn your grammar? From books, software, Kwiziq, YouTube or some other source?
Many thanks.
How much study of grammar do you do?
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Re: How much study of grammar do you do?
According to this poll from September 6 the majority of respondents focus on grammar throughout study.
https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... 14&t=18471
For myself I don't spend a huge amount of time on grammar as compared to input/immersion, but I never shy away from actively consulting grammar explanations when I'm stuck or unclear. To not do so is self-sabotage.
https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... 14&t=18471
For myself I don't spend a huge amount of time on grammar as compared to input/immersion, but I never shy away from actively consulting grammar explanations when I'm stuck or unclear. To not do so is self-sabotage.
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Re: How much study of grammar do you do?
Le Baron wrote:According to this poll from September 6 the majority of respondents focus on grammar throughout study.
https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... 14&t=18471
You've made me realize I left out an important option:
[] Less than I should.
I was sick when grammar as a subject was introduced and never had a teacher properly seduce me into its study.
It's only later here as an adult that I'm realizing that I probably need to study it to the point that I'm objectively good at it and then improve some more, as that's the only way to get really good.
Most of my grammar study, as far as time spent, isn't grammar, per se, but structured FSI drills. These tend to use linguistic rather than grammatical terms and focus on semantics. I rather like this approach. There seems to be less like rules, (which have exceptions) and more like objective guidelines.
I may be at a high intermediate level (B2ish), but I intend to study a more advanced grammar book and become aware of more nuance, especially on language features that are subtler.
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Re: How much study of grammar do you do?
luke wrote:Most of my grammar study, as far as time spent, isn't grammar, per se, but structured FSI drills. These tend to use linguistic rather than grammatical terms and focus on semantics. I rather like this approach. There seems to be less like rules, (which have exceptions) and more like objective guidelines.
It may well be an approach more people find congenial. I don't much care for very technical grammar explanations. It's not that I don't understand them, but it feels like reading an author who writes bad prose. There are better ways of teaching grammar than just piling up a lot of terminology and rules.
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Re: How much study of grammar do you do?
The only explicit grammar I actively (seeked out? sook out? Maybe I should learn English ) was modal particles. But sometimes I come across explanations in my input as well - for example, they discussed the difference between "Worte" and "Wörter" in the Easy German Podcast, among other subtle differences that other learners ask them about.
Other than that, there was a short period where I spent some time reading slowly, focusing on the form of each sentence. That was my form of grammar study. It changed the way I processed the language. Before doing that, I would probably process a sentence like this...
"In einem der umliegenden Häuser schloss jemand die Fensterläden, und auf der anderen Seite des Platzes spielten ein paar Kinder zwischen den Stühlen eines Restaurants, bis der Kellner sie wegscheuchte."
...something like this:
"In ('a' bucket) ('of the' bucket) umliegenden Häuser schloss jemand die Fensterläden, und auf ('the' bucket) ('anders' bucket) Seite ('of the' bucket) Platzes spielten ein paair Kinder zwischen ('the' bucket) Stühlen ('of a' bucket) ('Restaurant' bucket), bis ('the' bucket) Kellner sie wegscheuchte."
As if the gender of the words didn't exist, as if cases for nouns didn't exist (for pronouns I could acquire cases automatically though, maybe because English also has cases for pronouns...?). After that though, it wasn't a problem.
Other than that, there was a short period where I spent some time reading slowly, focusing on the form of each sentence. That was my form of grammar study. It changed the way I processed the language. Before doing that, I would probably process a sentence like this...
"In einem der umliegenden Häuser schloss jemand die Fensterläden, und auf der anderen Seite des Platzes spielten ein paar Kinder zwischen den Stühlen eines Restaurants, bis der Kellner sie wegscheuchte."
...something like this:
"In ('a' bucket) ('of the' bucket) umliegenden Häuser schloss jemand die Fensterläden, und auf ('the' bucket) ('anders' bucket) Seite ('of the' bucket) Platzes spielten ein paair Kinder zwischen ('the' bucket) Stühlen ('of a' bucket) ('Restaurant' bucket), bis ('the' bucket) Kellner sie wegscheuchte."
As if the gender of the words didn't exist, as if cases for nouns didn't exist (for pronouns I could acquire cases automatically though, maybe because English also has cases for pronouns...?). After that though, it wasn't a problem.
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Re: How much study of grammar do you do?
I did a bit of traditional learning very heavy on grammar my first couple months of learning German, but thankfully I stopped caring about grammar once I began an immersion-first approach to learning. 99% of what I know now about grammar came from pattern recognition through immersion. I forgot all those grammar charts and tables long ago.. they were totally useless to me.
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Re: How much study of grammar do you do?
If I'm trying to improve in a language, I will try to always do at least 15 minutes of grammar drills a day. If I'm comfortable with my level in a language, I tend to drop grammar and just focus on reading, listening and conversing. Honestly, though, I believe grammar study is extremely important and I'd like to do more, but my attention span can't take long sessions of grammar.
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Re: How much study of grammar do you do?
Fortheo » Fri Sep 16, 2022 7:33 pm
If I'm trying to improve in a language, I will try to always do at least 15 minutes of grammar drills a day. If I'm comfortable with my level in a language, I tend to drop grammar and just focus on reading, listening and conversing. Honestly, though, I believe grammar study is extremely important and I'd like to do more, but my attention span can't take long sessions of grammar.
Your mention of " Honestly, though, I believe grammar study is extremely important and I'd like to do more, but my attention span can't take long sessions of grammar." pretty well describes my situation. I just really wish "my attention span" were longer. My desire is there but my attention span does not cooperate.
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Re: How much study of grammar do you do?
Carmody wrote:Your mention of "Honestly, though, I believe grammar study is extremely important and I'd like to do more, but my attention span can't take long sessions of grammar." pretty well describes my situation. I just really wish "my attention span" were longer. My desire is there but my attention span does not cooperate.
I'm curious if French has a series sort of like Gramatica del uso de español. It has short lessons. One page is teaching language and another page is exercises. Everything is in the target language. There are A1/A2, B1/B2, and C1/C2 books.
With a course like this, reading and understanding the teaching language can be separated from the exercises themselves to make even shorter sessions.
On the same topic, I'm curious if the normal recommendation would be to start with a less challenging book so everything is clearly understood before moving on. E.G., if one is at B1 level, start with the A1/A2 book anyway to start an easy, low time commitment habit. Maybe it's personal and some would find "easy" to be "boring". For me, grammar has to be "easy" to be "useful".
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Re: How much study of grammar do you do?
With which I totally agree. Thank you.Luke
For me, grammar has to be "easy" to be "useful".
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