Grammar should be a supplement, not a requirement
While learning grammar can be useful, it should not take up a bulk of students' time because the time could be better spent on more important communication skills. Instead, grammar should be taught only when spare time is found, or even as an elective course.
English
education
grammar
language
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The Argument
It can be useful and even fascinating to some to understand the inner workings of language, sentence structure, and grammar rules. Knowing grammar can help one to write more fluently and communicate more effectively. However, grammar is unnecessary to learning how to communicate because it is something which is innately learned as one learns reading, writing, and speaking skills.
The only real reason to study grammar is as a supplement or a hobby. Not every student is going to be interested in learning grammar, and since it is nonessential to learning English, it should be given only as an elective course for those who are enthusiastic about language and grammar. If it makes it into the general classroom at all, it should only be when there is extra time to spare. Otherwise it is a waste to take time away from learning the essential skills of reading, writing, and speaking in order to study grammar.
Counter arguments
Studying grammar should be a requirement because many people today lack the essential foundational skills to boost their proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking. Their communication skills are poor because they have not been required to study grammar to the same capacity as it has been taught in the past, with some students never having studied it at all. In fact, many teachers today seem to be struggling with grammar,[1] and if they are struggling with basic communication skills, then how will our children fare? Forget supplemental; grammar study should be at the core of any English class, not sitting on the sidelines.
Premises
[P1] Learning grammar can be useful, but it is nonessential to communication.
[P2] Grammar study should be a supplement, not a requirement.
Rejecting the premises
[Rejecting P1] Grammar is the foundation of reading, writing, and speaking skills.
[Rejecting P2] Grammar study should be a requirement, not a supplement.