GRAMMAR IN USE’ AT AL RUSTAQ COLLEGE OF EDUCATION IN OMAN: STUDENTS’ RESULTS AND PERSPECTIVES

Sanaa Al Ghafri
Assistant Lecturer, Rustaq College of Education, OMAN, Sanaa.rus@cas.edu.om

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the usefulness of teaching grammar using the book English Grammar in Use written by Murphy which is commonly used by many universities and colleges. Actually, this book follows the direct method where the grammar rule is given on one page and followed by exercises on the opposite page. I was one of the students who have learned grammar through this book at my university (Sultan Qaboos University) in 2005 and the book is still used at Al Rustaq College of Education where I currently teach. To achieve the aim of my study, I gave my students a grammar test on nouns and articles since it is the first chapter to know their level before teaching them the intended grammar rule. Then, I gave them a test on the same rule after teaching them. The same technique was used with pronouns and determiners. They were four tests in total; two before teaching and two after teaching. The test results were compared in terms of their level before and after teaching the grammar rule. The results showed noticeable improvement in their marks. After comparing the results, group interviews were made with almost most students to know to what extent the book was useful for them. To my surprise, students’ perspectives about the book were positive, they generally expressed their gratefulness to the book in developing their grammar.  Other factors such as teacher’s techniques, visual materials and class environment that might have helped students along with the book were also part of the interviews.

Keywords: grammar, the direct method