Check the shelves of any language learning centre and you're bound to find at least one of the English Grammar in Use series. Its pages probably worn with use it is both a valuable reference and a source of classroom exercises for the ESL teacher, no matter what their class level or interest.

The In Use series has been around since long before I started my teaching career 11 years ago but in that time alone the books have been updated many times. All elements of the very baffling English grammar are covered - from present simple right through to the conditionals and future perfect, and every possible use you can think of for the structures that make up the English language.

Each topic covered by the books has two sections: a clear and concise explanation (listing the weird and wonderful exceptions, that so often have no set rule and just 'are that way') and usually five or six related exercises.

One question remains however: How can we use these books to best effect? Is it simply a matter of 'old school' drilling? I don't think so. Here's a few suggestions, which I've used successfully in my classes:

Skill: Writing
Level: All levels
Procedure:
Stage 1 - Select a list of about 10 words from any page of exercises from the book and write them on the board.
Stage 2 - Add a further 10 words, these should be auxilary or modal verbs and a few pronouns (depending on the grammar aspect you are going to teach).
Stage 3 - Tell the students to write 8 sentences using the words on the board only.
Stage 4 -When each student has eight sentences, divide the class into groups and tell the students to compare their sentences. They should now choose the best eight sentences to compose a story or a poem.
Stage 5 - The students read their stories to the class. When you hear a sentence involving the grammar aspect you want to teach write the sentence on the board.
Stage 6 - Ask the students to explain the sentences on the board and then give them the exercises from the book.

Skill: Speaking
Level: All levels
Procedure:
Stage 1 - Before class: select a list of words from an In Use exercise page. Write each word on a separate slip of paper. Adverbs or verbs are best for this activity.
Stage 2 - In class: distribute one slip of paper to each student. The student should keep his word a secret.
Stage 3 - Tell the students that they should describe the word to the class but not say it. Classmates should try to guess what the word is.
Stage 4 - Once all the words have been covered collect them and then redistribute them. The students do not need to have the same word as before.
Stage 5 - Again students must encourage classmates to guess their word but this time they are not allowed to speak. Instead they need to mime their word. Write each word on the board.
Stage 6 - Ask students how the words can be used and give them the exercises from the book.

Skill: Drawing/Speaking/Listening
Level: All levels
Procedure:
Stage 1 - Before class: Try to find a song with some of the words given in the In Use exercises. Nouns are best for this activity.
Stage 2 -In class: As a warmer call each student to the board. Give the student one of the words and tell him/her that he/she needs to draw the word on the board. The other students now guess what the word is.
Stage 3 - Divide the class into pairs or small groups and tell them that they have a few minutes to think of a story involving the pictures.
Stage 4 - The groups read their stories to the class.
Stage 5 - Tell the students that you will now play them a song. The students should listen out for the words and order them as they appear in the song.
Stage 6 - By now you will have some good examples of the language aspect you want to teach. Explain the use to the students and give them the exercises from the book.

I hope you enjoy these activities. They are of course very adaptable to the language aspect you want to teach, age and levels of students, and even the language taught (i.e. Spanish, Russian).
If you have any more suggestions please do let me know.

Happy teaching!

Andreas Grundtvig Dip. TESOL
© 11052005

(Compiled from a Teacher Development Seminar given at Soros International House, Vilnius, Lithuania).