German Reference Grammar - introduction
'Grammar is the way that words make sense. It is a code or set of rules accepted by any community who share a language.' (Language into Languages Teaching, University of Glasgow, Scottish Executive Education Department, 2001)
What follows is an attempt to set out the rules of grammar for the structures which are often used in the teaching of German for P6 and P7.
Why use this resource?
It is appreciated that some teachers who have completed their MLPS training may feel a little insecure in their knowledge of basic German grammar. This is understandable, and this reference grammar offers some help. It is by definition very restricted, but closely tied to the requirements of teachers offering German in the primary school.
This does not mean that primary school teachers will now be expected to teach grammar formally as it is laid out here. There is no expectation that pupils should work through this grammar resource.
It is a reference resource for teachers, to try to make them more comfortable with the rules behind the communicative language which they are offering in class. It is felt that a degree of security about the rules of grammar will make teachers more comfortable in their use of German.
How should I use this resource?
There is, of course, no ban on teachers explaining simple rules of grammar to pupils - quite the contrary. Quite often a simple explanation will be a quick and effective way for pupils to make sense of how a particular bit of language works. Drawing an analogy with English will often help further.
It is important for teachers to judge when, how, and for which pupils they should offer a simple grammatical explanation. Having access to this resource will enable teachers to use their own words to clarify things for pupils in their own way, where and when they think that will help.
Any overly formal use of this resource - projecting tables of adjective endings onto a whiteboard, for example - should be avoided.
In the same spirit, this resource is not intended to be an extra burden for teachers, something to be learned off by heart as a set of rules. It offers a slightly more analytical way of seeing how language works, how structures can be unpicked for easier understanding, and how you can use that understanding to generate more language yourself. Then you can apply things learned in one context to another - and with the knowledge you have gained, help pupils to do the same.
Viel Spaß!