Name: Lin Li

Date: May 5th, 2015

Title: Understanding Tense Contrasts
Context: Simple vs. Progressive
Description of Artifact:
This artifact is from TESOL Grammar A class and aims to
compare and contrast between simple and progressive tenses. This
worksheet contains three parts: paired examples, important points
summary, and exercises. In the first section, paired examples (two
similar sentences with only tense difference) are presented first and
then followed with questions, like How is the nature of the actions
different? What is the point of reference for the actions? How do
the actions related to the point of reference (at, before, after, in
progress as of, beginning at)? Trough comparison discovery, students
themselves come up with rational explanations to each example by
answering those questions. Then the second section, important
grammar points summary, is presented as reference and authentic
rules for students. Students will read the summary and get a better
understanding of the rules by connecting their previous discoveries.
Last, an error correction exercise is provided for learning checking.
Students will first work individually and then discuss answers with their
partners. Teacher gives correct explanations in the end.
New Ideas, information, or awareness from this artifact:
This worksheet indicates and clearly presents the inductive
approach

of

Grammar

teaching.

Inductive

approach

promotes

discovery learning, which simulates the way children acquire their first
language. Generally speaking, it is from general to specific, with which
teachers usually start with examples and then infer to the rules
(Thornbury, 1999).

Comparing the traditional ways that students

memorize grammar rules first and then apply, the inductive approach
strengthens learning and develops students critical thinking skills. In
addition,

the

teacher

drew

graphic

when

explaining

tense

differences, helping students understand visually.

Reflection on how this will impact your approach to teaching
and learning:
The worksheet is idea for giving functional explanations on the
12 tenses in English. Comparison gives students a more in depth
understanding of the grammar rules. Instead of simply presenting the
rules, this worksheet allows students to discover rules by themselves.
Besides the comparison presented in this one, other comparisons could
be designed between simple present and progressive, perfect and
simple,

present

perfect

and

simple

past,

perfect

and

perfect

progressive, and etc.. In my future class, I will follow this worksheet to

develop other comparisons between similar grammar points, especially
English tenses. I will have my students study grammar in a discovery
way and then give them the authentic explanations and attached
exercise to strengthen the learning. Plus, I will also use the visualized
graphic as a supporting tool for tense explanations.

Reference:
Thornbury, Scott. (1999). How to teach grammar. Malaysia: Longman.
Pearson Education Limited 1999. P47