Visual aids are crucial for understanding English time concepts. Teaching Tenses popularized distinct styles of timeline diagrams to visually contrast tenses.
A standout feature of Aitken's work is her proactive analysis of common learner errors. By predicting the exact phonetic, structural, and conceptual mistakes students from various linguistic backgrounds make, she equips teachers with immediate remedial strategies. Comprehensive Breakdown of Key Tense Groups
Rosemary Aitken’s work remains essential because it empowers teachers with "practical working principles" rather than just scholarly analysis. By focusing on meaningful context and clear presentation, it helps transform an abstract grammatical hurdle into an accessible part of a student's linguistic repertoire. teaching tenses rosemary aitken pdf
To avoid asking the futile question, "Do you understand?", Aitken teaches educators how to formulate targeted Concept Check Questions (CCQs). For example, for the sentence, "He has gone to Paris," the CCQs would be: Is he in Paris now? (Yes) Is he here? (No) Contextualized Drills
Aitken's methodology centers on moving away from rote memorization of grammatical rules and toward understanding the behind the tense. Here are the core pillars of her approach: A. Context First, Form Second Visual aids are crucial for understanding English time
: In-depth analysis of Modal Auxiliaries and the Passive voice.
For any teacher—especially those in their first few years of teaching English as a Foreign Language—this book acts as a security blanket. It ensures that when a student asks, "Why do we use this tense?" the teacher has a clear, conceptual answer ready. By predicting the exact phonetic, structural, and conceptual
For any teacher serious about their craft—whether you're just starting your journey or looking to fine-tune your skills—, and its value will be felt in every grammar lesson you teach.
Will/Shall, Going to, Future Continuous, Future Perfect, 'Timetable' and 'Diary' futures. Conditionals Zero, First, Second, and Third conditionals. Simple and perfect forms of modal auxiliaries. Simple, continuous, and perfect passive tenses. Appendices Emphatic tenses, Tag questions, Phrasal verbs, and Photocopiable Materials for classroom use. Availability for Viewing