Free Syntax Essay Example

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When learning any language, we should have appropriate grammar competence that allows us to get and give information about the word. Thus, syntax plays a really important role in English, since the conveyed meaning highly depends on the order of words in a sentence. Syntax is a study of acquired rules that are used for word combination into sentences by native speakers (Freeman, D., & Freeman, Y., 2011, p. 92).
English language syntax can differ from other languages. It makes difficulties for second language learners, because they appeal to their mother tongue knowledge unconsciously and make some errors because of that. Nevertheless, it seems, one of the best ways of teaching English is to draw a parallel between motherese and second language, especially if they have some similarities.
For example, a survey was conducted to compare the effects of distribute and massed practice schedules concerning second language English syntax learning. Attendees were put up to distinctions in the tense and aspect systems of English within short and long practice periods. Then they were tested at the same intervals, respectively. The results indicated that distributed practice led to better test scores on the long-term test showing that English syntax learning can benefit from distributed practice in the similar manner to the reported information types and skills in the experimental psychology literature (Bird, S., 2010).
Thus, a great number of factors can influence the way of teaching. They are teaching materials, teacher’s level of experience, education problems, etc. So, taking into account all these issues, teachers should develop their own attitude on second language teaching basing on different teaching approaches and models. As syntax is considered to be one of the most important parts of English grammar, teachers should do their best to properly teach it to their students.

References

Bird, S. (2010). Effects of distributed practice on the acquisition of second language English syntax. Applied Psycholinguistics, 31(04), 635-650. Retrieved 11 February 2015, from http://eric.ed.gov/?q=syntax+of+English+language&id=EJ897971
Freeman, D., & Freeman, Y. (2011). Between Worlds: Access to Second Language Acquisition (3rd edition). Heinemann.