Teachers 'do not know enough grammar to teach new curriculum' An eminent linguistics professor has attacked teachers' ability to teach grammar correctly, as they often have "no knowledge of English grammar themselves". By Matthew Payton 4:31PM BST 04 Oct 2013 Bas Aarts, Professor of English Linguistics at University College London, said that new tests introduced by Education Secretary Michael Gove for pupils up to the age of 14 demanded a greater knowledge of grammar than many teachers currently possessed. “Many teachers feel uncomfortable with grammar and don’t know how to use it formally,” he told The Times. "We always knew the teaching of grammar was difficult for teachers because they often had no knowledge of English grammar themselves." He pointed out the skills gap was not the fault of the teachers themselves, but due to a historical lapse in the formalised teaching of grammar. He said: "There was a point in the 1960s when the Government said that schoolchildren didn’t need to learn any grammar as it inhibits their creativity. Now, that’s changing rapidly.” The new curriculum features rigorous testing on the mechanics of grammar, and has been designed to improve standards of literacy in primary school and Key Stage 3 pupils.
Teachers 'do not know enough grammar to teach new curriculum'An
eminent linguistics professor has attacked teachers' ability to
teach grammar correctly, as they often have "no knowledge of
English grammar themselves".By atthew !ayton4:31PM BST 04 Oct
2013Bas Aarts, Professor of English Linguistics at ni!ersit"
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