Finding a place for grammar in EFL composition classes

Abstract

This article looks at the controversial position of grammar in writing methodology, and attempts to lay out a number of guidelines for the inclusion of grammar in composition classes specifically intended for EFL, rather than ESL contexts. Today's principal current methodologies—the process approach and the genre approach, which were developed primarily for ESL situations—are examined for their suitability in EFL contexts. Some of the other issues surrounding a focus on form are also considered. Our conclusion is that there are grounds for including a limited grammar component in composition courses, and that such a grammar needs to be of a general rather than a genre‐specific nature. A number of guidelines are suggested for including grammar, along with a brief example of how they might be applied.