Monday, December 7, 2015
Friday, March 13, 2015
A great lesson on Cognitive Grammar
Almost one year passed after my last post, so I figured it was time to write something.
I can say that probably I have some excuse. My son was born in November and the new duties as department chair reduce greatly the time for extras. But here I am.
What pushed me to write is that I found an amazing youtube video of the University of Zaragoza, Spain. Dr. Castañeda explains how cognitive grammar can be very useful in class because its great pedagogical value. The explanation is very clear (if you speak Spanish) and it highlight the fact that it is absolutely necessary to "change the chip" (expression borrowed from Jose Ruiz Campillo), when it comes to teaching grammar.
Teaching the grammar that is present in our textbooks is just a waste of time. A fresh view of a grammar that can explain why the native speakers choose certain expressions instead of others and it focuses on the form-meaning connection is imperative. Cognitive grammar can be very useful because it explains in simple terms the meanings associated with the forms, transforming grammar into an operational tool that the learners can use to construct their expressions. I hope you enjoy it!
What pushed me to write is that I found an amazing youtube video of the University of Zaragoza, Spain. Dr. Castañeda explains how cognitive grammar can be very useful in class because its great pedagogical value. The explanation is very clear (if you speak Spanish) and it highlight the fact that it is absolutely necessary to "change the chip" (expression borrowed from Jose Ruiz Campillo), when it comes to teaching grammar.
Teaching the grammar that is present in our textbooks is just a waste of time. A fresh view of a grammar that can explain why the native speakers choose certain expressions instead of others and it focuses on the form-meaning connection is imperative. Cognitive grammar can be very useful because it explains in simple terms the meanings associated with the forms, transforming grammar into an operational tool that the learners can use to construct their expressions. I hope you enjoy it!
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