Shifting the focus from forms to form in the EFL classroom
Abstract
This article examines arguments for ‘focus on form’, a term referring to the incorporation of implicit grammar instruction within communicative ESL lessons, and suggests ways to adapt this approach to EFL settings where grammar instruction has never left the classroom. In such contexts a focus-on-form approach can provide an acceptable rationable for including communicative language use within traditional grammar-based instruction. Several types of form-focused EFL activities are described, including two task-based approaches designed for large classes.
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A focus-on-form activity can be incorporated into a synthetic approach such as PPP, which some commentators have argued is needed in contexts where the L2 is a foreign rather than a second language and where there is an expectancy that the language will be taught explicitly.
“In the case of the latter a focus-on-form activity can be incorporated into a synthetic approach such as PPP, which some commentators (e.g.Fotos, 1998;Littlewood, 2007) have argued is needed in contexts where the L2 is a foreign rather than a second language and where there is an expectancy that the language will be taught explicitly.”
From Focus on form: A critical review (2016) · cites this paper as Fotos, 1998
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Legislation by Hypothesis: The Case of Task-Based Instruction
Swan, M. (2005) · Applied Linguistics · doi:10.1093/applin/ami013 · Cited by 481 · see citing works
Focus on form: A critical review
Ellis, R. (2016) · Language Teaching Research · doi:10.1177/1362168816628627 · Cited by 417 · see citing works
Exploring the benefits of task repetition and recycling for classroom language learning
Lynch, T., & Maclean, J. (2000) · Language Teaching Research · doi:10.1177/136216880000400303 · Cited by 260 · see citing works
- Authors
- Fotos, S.
- Affiliations
- Senshu University (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Fotos, Sandra
- Venue
- ELT Journal
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 1998-10
- Volume
- 52
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 301-307
- ISSN
- 0951-0893 (ISSN-L)
- 1477-4526
- OpenAlex
- W2041785401
- Cited by
- 94
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 15
- FWCI
- 22.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- ELT Journal (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Language and Linguistics › EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Second Language Acquisition and Learning
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › English Language Learning and Teaching
- Keywords
- form-focused instruction, EFL classroom, implicit grammar instruction, communicative language teaching, grammar instruction, task-based language teaching, large classes
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