In the 1930’s, JC Tressler wrote a series of English books entitled English in Action. Never more than in the last decade have his ideas been needed. This is a summary of what he called his “twelve planks” of using the language, in his words:
1. Explanation without illustration and practice is valueless.
2. Good speech and writing habits are more to be desired – and harder to secure – than a knowledge of correct forms.
3. Practice is of little value unless or until a person sees a need of it.
4. As an example or model, a good piece of pupil writing is ordinarily more stimulating than a literary masterpiece, since it sets a standard in which the pupil can hope to reach.
5. The aims of grammar teaching are to help pupils (1) to write and speak correct sentences (2) to construct effective sentences, (3) to punctuate correctly, and (4) to extract thought from the printed page.
6. The best way to study grammar is by applying it. Pupils learn grammar rapidly and thoroughly when they use it in building sentences.
7. The criteria for the selection of drill material and the determination of how much emphasis should be placed on each point selected are the frequency of use and the frequency, persistency, and social seriousness of error. Only errors to which society attaches a penalty are included.
8. An English textbook should furnish training in the language activities ordinarily carried on in school and also well-selected activities paralleling present and future out-of-school experiences.
9. Creative expression – that is, translating experience into words in order to share what is too good to keep to oneself – is a vital and valuable part of an English program.
10. A maintenance program is essential in effective English instruction.
11. Intelligent self-appraisal is necessary in the development of skills.
12. The best way to help pupils to learn about grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and the effective sentence is to “test, teach, test, teach, test, teach to the point of mastery.”
More later…
