004 Why Studying Grammar Is Not Enough

Hi, everybody! I’m Georgiana from SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. Welcome to a new episode of the Speak English Now podcast!

Have you ever met someone who knows a lot about English grammar?

Maybe they can explain verb tenses.

They know the difference between the present perfect and the past simple.

They know many grammar rules.

But then, when they try to speak English, something strange happens.

They hesitate.

They translate.

They search for words.

It’s almost like their grammar knowledge disappears.

Why does this happen?

Today, we’re going to talk about why studying grammar is not enough to speak English.

And I’ll introduce a technique I use in my lessons called Point of View, which helps you learn grammar through context.

Okay. Let’s get started!

First, I want to clarify something.

Grammar is not bad.

Grammar can be useful.

It can help you understand how English works.

It can help you notice patterns.

It can help you organize what you know.

For example, if you want to understand why we use a certain expression, a grammar explanation can be very helpful.

But there is a difference between knowing about English and being able to use English.

Imagine you want to learn how to drive a car.

So you buy a driving manual.

Not a small manual.

A huge manual.

A very serious manual.

You read it from beginning to end.

You learn every traffic sign.

You learn what every button does.

You learn how the engine works.

You even learn the correct tire pressure.

After months of studying, you know a lot about cars.

You are basically an expert… at reading a book.

But then you sit in the driver’s seat.

Someone says:

“Okay. Drive.”

And you say:

“Wait a minute. I need to review chapter seven.”

Of course, the manual is useful.

But reading a manual is not the same as driving.

You need practice.

You need experience.

You need to use the car.

Learning English is similar.

Grammar rules can help you understand English.

But knowing rules is not the same as using English naturally.

Many learners spend years studying grammar, but they don’t spend enough time listening to and using English.

They know the rules, but the rules are not yet easy to use when they need them.

This is why learning English in context is so important.

Your brain needs examples.

It needs to see how English is used in real situations.

This is why I use Point of View lessons.

The idea is simple.

You hear the same story from different points of view.

The story stays almost the same, but the language changes.

Because you already understand the situation, you can focus on the changes in English.

You don’t need to memorize a long grammar explanation.

You can simply notice the patterns.

Now, let’s practice with a Point of View lesson.

Remember: I’ll tell you the same story in a different way. Listen carefully and notice how the English changes.