How to teach Language focus period in grade 8 effectively

	A. INTRODUCTION.
 I.REASONS OF CHOOSING THE TOPIC.
 In the development of a powerful information technology today, English has truly become an international language. It plays an important role in the fields of development of society in general,and in particular with education. Nowadays,there are many countries in the world use English in teaching in schools as well as in daily communication. English is the most important media in many countries in the world.Besides, English is the official language of forty five countries.Therefore, accessing to and mastering English is very urgent in the industrialization and modernization of the country.
Teaching grammar is an essential part of school education. Without good grammar, spoken or written words lose much of their meaning and most of their value.  Grammar is a very important thing to get right, and teachers should take extra care to impart proper grammar to all their students.  Sadly, grammar is often seen as a difficult and boring subject and one popular method of teaching is to just repeat the correct grammar for a certain situation over and over until it is memorised and able to be repeated, like a parrot.  This is dull for both teachers and students, and often only results in the students being able to repeat what they have learned, rather than resulting in a complete understanding that can be applied to all situations.Therefore, students will forget what they have learned after a short time. 
In secondary school programs in general and in grade 8 program in particular, Language focus period is considered as a grammar period. Because of its difficulty and boredom, more and more students don't want to study it. That concerns many teachers. And I do, too. I wornder how to teach Language focus efectively.
In order to teach language focus effectively, for me, teachers should choose the methods and techniques which are suitable for the aims of the lesson as well as teachers need to explain how important the grammar is to students. As I mentioned above, Language focus is a boring class, so teachers need attract students' attention , make joyful atmosphere and promote their active activities. 
By this way, students can remember deeply and apply easily what they learned to do exercises. 
Over the years to apply innovative methods in teaching of English, and learn by experiences from my colleagues, I want to share my experience on 
" How to teach Language focus period in grade 8 effectively".
II. RESEARCH PURPOSES:
 I have attended some periods of my colleagues and I saw that some teachers still depend on the content of textbooks so much that some periods are lacking lively and creativity. There are so many exercises that psychology of teachers are often afraid of not having enough time so they teach quickly.This makes students understand the lessons ineffectively.
 I have presented this article so that it brings out a more positive direction to teach “Language Focus” to be effective lesson and students acquire the lesson a better way . In particular will be useful for teachers to teach dependently on pretty much textbooks, or even severe lesson on methods explained.
With this positive approach requires teachers to prepare carefully the nature of communication tips and steps matching subjects taught students. If we done well these requirements, they will be interested in learning, creating the relaxed atmosphere and intimacy in communication, to help them acquire all effective and better mastery.
III. OBJECT OF RESEARCH
Research project is carried out within the technical program 8th grade English. Research process emphasizes communication in teaching and learning, student-focused. The content focuses on the Language Focus and actively support tips for this lesson.
I myself do not stop researching, find out, applying innovative methods and measures to help them grasp the ability, skills and access to perform exercises effective Language Focus section. To assess the ability of students, I have conducted research and surveys on subjects mainly graders 8A, 8B and 8C 2015-2016 school year I am teaching.
Learning of students in grade 8 school year 2015 - 2016 and sharing experience with the teachers in English Group of Ben Sung town Secondary School is to find out the reasons and solution to this problem.
	IV. RESEARCH METHODS 
- Meet and tell to students in grade 8.
- Exchange experience with the colleagues.
- Experiment, compare and contrast between reality and rationale.
- Analysis, exchange and discuss
- Practice, teaching some periods
B. CONTENTS
I. RATIONALE ANH PRACTICAL BASIS: 
1. Rationale.
Nowadays, as we know, English is used as the mother tongue by over 450 millions people and it is used as a second language by over 550 million people. If we add over 750 million people who have studied English as a foreign language that means there are over 1 million people speak English in the world.
In some countries, English plays an important role to open the large world. For example, English is spoken by over 300 million Chinese and by 350 million Indian. In Viet Nam , English has been widespread taught in all levels recently. 
2. Practical basis.
 When learning a new language, grammar is very important. Grammar is really the foundation of the language. It gives you the rules and regulations.Without good grammar, you could still make yourself understood - obviously you have the vocabulary - but as soon as you start saying more complicated things that involve different times, tenses, that's when grammar becomes very useful. Without grammar, you don't know how many people you're talking about, who you're talking about, and that's why it's important. Therefore, besides studying Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing skills, it's necessary to study grammar and do exercises. Without grammar and structures, students can't make sentences, do exercises, write or speak.
In fact, it is one of the most difficult aspects of a language to teach. However, so as to attract students' attention, teachers must find out suitable methods and encourage students' inventive activities . 
	II. STATES OF THE PROBLEM 
 1. For students:
 	The structure of program in grade 8 is much more difficult than in grade 6 and 7. In grade 8, students have to study 4 skills : Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing separately that are different from in grade 6 and 7.
	Many parents are not concerned about their children's learning and some of them don't think English is very important, they pay attention to other subjects but English.
Language focus is an uninteresting class which sometimes bores the students to death, so students get a lot of dificulties in studying it.
2. For teachers
 	Some teachers have no time to prepare teaching aids because they have to teach a lot of grades and classes.
Some teachers tents to focus on these rulers and forms in their classroombelieving that their students learn best through rote memorization. While it is imperative that students learn the rules and forms of grammar, this is not an effective method of teaching grammar. It tends to result in a classroom full of bored and uninterested students who know how to produce excellent results in exercises and on tests, but fail badly at using the language in contextual situations. 
On the other hand, there are teachers who teach grammar through osmosis.Teaching methods tend to revolve around the assumption that students will absorb grammar rules in communication activities or they believe that the children learn their first language without grammar instruction; therefore learning a second language should be the same way.
3. For schools 
The lack of equipment or backward equipment affects sharpenly to the quality of teaching.
Many schools have no laboratories, no projector room and they don't have enough reference books for students and teachers to read.
4. The result of the problem.
Basing on the above problem, when teaching I always find out the inventive ways to help students to get in touch, approach and practice doing exercises in Laguage focus. To appreciate students' abilities, before applying the methods, I test
them and have the following result: 
Here is the result of students in grade 8 with 90 students at the first semester of 2015-2016 school year.
- 35 students can apply the knowlege in Laguage focus to do all exercises excellently ( = 39%).
- 30 students can apply the knowlege in Laguage focus to do all exercises in textbook but sometimes they find dificulty ( = 33,3 %)
- 25 students understand the lesson but they can't apply the theory to do all exercises in the textbook( = 27,7%)
Each teacher has their own way to teach part Language focus, and I want to mention the methods that I applied to teach this part in grade 8.
	III. SOLUTIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION 
Grammar instruction helps students acquire the target language more efficiently, but we should also incorporate as many communicative activities into their lesson plan as possible to strengthen what we are teaching. Remember: Most people learn from learning, observation, and practice.
Break the class time down into manageable sections, and make sure that we are introducing and explaining the grammar lesson, demonstrate how it is used in contextual situations, put it to practical use in the classroom, and play an engaging game that reinforces your lesson.
Teaching grammar is the same as teaching other aspects of English, we need to implement the following steps:
- Write the target grammar rule on the board.
- Introduce the target grammar rule/tense and explain when to use the grammar point and why.
- Go over the rule again. Present the grammar point in written and oral examples to bring the lesson into context and to address the needs of students with different learning styles.
- Providing examples is an important part of grammar instruction. Plan your examples around two basic principles:
 a) Examples must be accurate and appropriate. They must present the language appropriately and be culturally appropriate for the setting in which they are used. 
b)Use the examples as teaching tools. Focus examples on a particular theme or topic so that students have more contact with specific information and vocabulary.
- Once you’ve run through your examples, ask your students if they can come up with some simple ideas or sentences that match the rule you are teaching.
- Conclude this portion of the lesson by teaching any exceptions to the rule.
That means we need carry out three following ways:
1. Presentation.
2. Practice doing exercises.
3.Techniques to consolidate.
1. Introduce forms and meanings of the structures.
Before doing exercises, the teachers introduce forms and meanings of the structures. Each lesson I apply a suitable method, I often use the following ways:
 a. Study structures in the context.
 I find that, with grammar, before I start teaching the exact rules, it's also quite good to put it into context. So, for example, if I am teaching present perfect ( Unit 7 - page 69, 70) , it's always good to start talking to students about how long you have studied English, or how long they have lived here . That way, it becomes much more relevant to them. 
 Unit 5: Section L.F 1 / P. 52
- When I present adverbs of manner, I usually ask some students to give the common form: + S1: It is formed by adding “ly” after adjs
 - Ex: Adjs Advs
 beautiful beautifully
 + S2: There are some words both adjs and advs such as: hard, fast, late,early,far,straight.
 Ex: She is a hard student She studies hard.
 + S3: There is an irregular adv: good => well
 Ex: He is a good student. He studies well
 + S4: It is placed after V: S + V + Adv
 Ex: She dances beautifully.
 + S5: It is placed after O: S + V + O +Adv
 Ex: Mr Minh drives his car carefully.
 + S6: It is between S and V: S + Adv + V
 Ex: She angrily slammed the door.
 Unit 14 Section L.F 2 / P. 136,137.
When I present Indirect speech (Yes / No questions), I often ask a student to make a yes/ no question and then I report this sentence to students in the class.
Eg1: S: "Do you like sports?"
 T: He asked me if /whether I liked sports.
Eg2: S1 asked S2 : " Are you busy now?"
 S2 reported this sentence: S1 asked S2 if I was busy then.
S + asked+ (O) + If / whether + S + V (lùi 1thì)
Compare this structure with structures that they learned in Unit 5 
( commands, requests and advice in reported speech)
b. Compare and contrast structures:
By using this way, students can contrast the structure they learned in grade 6 or 7 with what they are learning. The students can review once more time learned structure and know new structure more deeply.
 Eg: Unit 4 - Section L.F 4 / P. 45: 
Teaching structure Used to, I ask students to compare "be/ get used to " which they sudied in grade 7 
Teacher gives examples : 1. I used to live in the countryside.
 2. I am/ get used to living in the countryside.
- Ask Ss to draw the structure and give more example.
 =>S + used to + V- inf 
Eg: I used to cry when I first went to school.
 Eg: Unit 11 Section L.F 3,4 / P. 109, 110. When teaching Requests with "mind"
- Teacher gives two examples 
Eg1: T: Do/ Would you mind opening the window? 
S: Yes, of course.
Eg 2: T: I'm very hot. Would you mind if I opened the window?
 S: Please do
=> Structures: - request sb to do st
 Would/ Do you mind + Ving ? 
 - request do st for sb
 Would you mind if + S + Ved ?
- Ask Ss to give more example, before doing exercises
Eg: Would you mind if I sat here ?
Eg: Would you mind not smoking?
 Eg: Unit 7 - Language focus page 69, 70
 Now, a lot of my English language students get the past simple and the present perfect confused. So it's good to put them in context, perhaps in the same paragraph, so students can see how they are different.
Eg1: She lived in Ha Noi for five years, then she moved to Thanh hoa city.
Eg2: She has lived in Ha Noi for five years now.
 c. Explanations: 
 Unit 10 page 95 Language focus, when teaching passive forms and adjectives followed by: an infinitive or a noun clause, I have to explain new structures as they are a bit difficult for some students to understand.
Teacher writes example on the board and ask students to identify subject, verb and object in this sentence
 Eg1 : We are learning English now
 Eg2: Break the glass into small pieces 
=>Eg1: English is being learned by us
 Eg2: the glass is broken into small pieces
- Ask Students to draw the structure.
 S + V + O
 S + be + PP + adv of place + (by O)+ adv of time
 2. Practice
It's very important to reinforce the grammar that the students have learned. Get them to practice with each other. I find it very useful to do exercises in the textbook well. By checking the exercises students do, it's very easy to know students understand a rule of grammar or not or then they forget it. 
However, some assignments in the textbook aren't suitable for the students, so the teachers can raplace by other.
For example Unit 10 : Section L.F 2 / P. 96: instead of completing the dialogue between Hai and Dr Lam in the textbook, I ask students to practice in 
pairs by making sentences using passive forms 
Eg1: S1: My father drinks coffee every morning
 S2: Coffee is drunk by my father ever morning.
Eg2: S1: They visited us last week
 S2: We were visited last week.
Eg3: S1: He will buy a new house next year.
 S2: A new house will be bought by him next year
..... 
Obviously, teaching the present simple is quite straightforward, and most of my students already know the basic rules. But I find that, with more complicated grammar, such as passive forms, the past perfect, reported speech , that's when I really need to reinforce it and think of more inventive ways of teaching it. 
The aim after the lesson is how to help all the students finish exercises in the textbook.
 3. Techniques to consolidate
 	Most exercises in the part LANGUAGE FOCUS aims to strengthen and test the students' knowledge of grammar that they have learned. To help students acquire good knowledge and train skills, in addition to assisting them with homework , I think also need to give children the feeling of excitement and interest them to encourage them taking part actively in lessons .
	The normal procedure is applicable for the purposes of this lesson are: 
Dialogue build, Dictation, Gap fill, Matching, Network, Finding friends, Find someone who, Ordering words, Language games. Tôi quan tâm đến việc sử dụng hiệu quả và hợp lí thủ thuật Language games. Thủ thuật này bao gồm các trò chơi như : Chain game, Noughts & crosses, Pelmanism, Guessing game, Lucky numbers/stars , ...
 Unit 1 : section L.F 3 / P.17: Lucky stars
 Teaching aids: pictures ( p.17 ) Divide the class into 2 groups, for a lucky number, Ss will get 2 points without answering any questions. For other numbers, Ss have to answer the question, 2 points for a correct sentence.
How many people are there in the picture?
What does the woman look like?
Lucky star
What does the boy look laike?
Lucky star
What is the woman wearing? 
What does the manstanding at the bus stop look like?
What is he wearing?
Lucky star.
What is the boy wearing?
 Unit 2 : section L.F 2/ P. 25 : 
Survey (pair work) : 
Eg : S1: Are you going to see a movie?
 S2: Yes, I am.What about you?
 S1: No, I am not
 S2: Are you going to play sport?
 S1: Yes, I am
 .............................
 Unit 3 : section L.F 1/ P. 34
-Ask ss to match the verbs in the box with the picture before completing the sentences.
- Then compare the result with deskmate.
- give feedback
* Matching game (individual)
Picture a - tidy
Picture b- dust
Picture c- sweep
Picture d-clean
Picture e - empty
Picture f - feed.
 Unit 4 : section L.F 3 / 44
*Brainstorming: prepositions (individual)
 to on in
 at Prepositions between
 before till
 after
- Ask Ss to think of prepositions that they have learnt
- Have Ss write down the prepositions
- Give feedback
- Ask Ss to give Vietnamese meaning
- Ask Ss have to complete the sentences by using correct prepositions.
 Or ask Ss to match prepositions
In
On
At
Between
After / Before
January
3 p.m
November 1997
July 2nd 
7 a.m and 9 a.m
6 a.m
 In January
 In November 1997
 On July 2nd 
 At 6 a.m
 Between 7 a.m and 9 a.m
 After / Before 3 p.m
 Unit 6 : section L.F 2 / P. 61: Survey ( work group)
- Asks Ss to look at the table.talk about friend's hobbies.
- Have ss work in group. Group leader asks her friends
- Present before class one by one.
Eg: Group leader: Do you like playing sports?
S1: Yes ,I do
S2: No, I don't
S3:....
Group leader: Do you enjoy cooking meals?
S1: Yes ,I do
S2: No, I don't
S3:No. I hate it.What about you?
............
 Unit 10 : section L.F 3 / P. 96
Noughts and Crosses ( Group work )
Teaching aids : the chart :
 (1) easy /understand 
 (2) dangerous/go 
 (4)important/wait 
 ( 3) hard / believe
- Divide the class into teams : O & X
- Model sentence : difficult / follow 
 => It's difficul to follow your direction
	The above are just some examples as exercises were conducted in the form of the game to spark interest in learning for pupils and students and to ensure the principle of central role with appropriate methods which students are center. 
4 Making lesson plan
 - Period: 23rd Unit 4: Our past
 Lesson 5: language focus ( page 44 - 45)
I, Objectives:
 By the end of the lesson, sts will be able to further practice with past simple, prepositions of time: in, on, at, after, before, between and used to
II, Language content:
1.Vocab: Lay eggs amazement, foolishman 
2.Gram : Past simple
III, Teaching aids : tape, cassetle, book 
IV,Procedures:
1. Old lesson: Tell again the story in part write 
2. New lesson: 
* Warm up
-Have Ss match each prepositions with the time / date / month 
-Give feedback and co