The aim of this leaflet

The aim of this leaflet is to help you find suitable learning materials. It lists questions for you to think about before choosing materials, and provides a classified index of Language Commons and Web Grammar materials, to make it easier for you to find materials that suit your needs.

Materials in the Language Commons

• Textbooks
  Most of the textbooks are located on the ‘Grammar Practice’ and ‘Grammar Reference’ shelves. You can find the Grammar aspects you’re looking for in the Contents Pages or Indexes at the front or back of each book. The table on p.3 below provides information about each of the Language Commons Grammar books. You can also search for materials on particular Grammar aspects using the computer catalogue. Choose ‘Skill’ on the first screen.
• CD-ROMs
  There are Grammar CD-ROMs available, such as Issues in English, in the Orientation Area of the Language Commons.
• Other materials
  As well as (or instead of) using Grammar materials, you can also learn Grammar from Reading materials. Newspapers and magazines are available in the Orientation Area, and readers (which can be borrowed for two weeks) are available in the Language Commons Area A.

Materials on the Web

The table at the back of this leaflet provides information about recommended web materials.

Choosing materials

Here are a number of questions to help you narrow down your search and find materials that suit your needs. Perhaps the first question to ask is:

• Do I want to use Grammar materials, or would I rather discover Grammar rules and patterns for myself?
• If you prefer to use Grammar materials, you can narrow your search by asking yourself:
• Do I want to test myself first in order to find out what areas I am weakest at? (If so, look for materials with Diagnostic Tests).
• Do I prefer books to be organised according to traditional Grammar categories (e.g. ‘Tenses’) or according to functions (e.g. ‘Talking about the future’)?
• Do I prefer ‘one sentence’ examples or longer passages (‘grammar in context’)?
• Do I like explanations to be concise or detailed?
• Do I want information on advanced sentence structure and style?
• Do I prefer book or online materials?

Having answered these questions, you will be able to narrow down your search using the classified index of materials on the next page.

Once you have found a few materials that seem to be suitable, there are some further questions that will help you make your final choice(s):

• Do the topics match my goal?
• Are the contents page and index easy to follow?
• Is the language up-to-date?
• Are the explanations clear?
• Is the level of the material appropriate?

A quick look at the Contents Page, the Introduction/Preface and a sample unit should be enough for you to decide whether the material is suitable.

Note

The introductory leaflet in this series is the leaflet Improving your Grammar (G1).

This advice sheet is part of the Grammar series of leaflets supporting independent learning, produced by the HKUST Center for Language Education Language Commons team. This leaflet was written by Jacqueline Lam Kam-mei, 2000. Revised by Richard Pemberton, 2001. Version 3. Last updated: 27 February 2001. If you copy from this leaflet, please acknowledge the source. Thanks.

1. Common Errors in English http://vlc.polyu.edu.hk/common [Explanation + exercises from PolyU VLC]
2. DEN Online Test Centre, The http://www.edunet.com/test/index.cfm [Tests, quizzes + games]
3. ESL Quiz Center http://www.pacificnet.net/~sperling/quiz
4. Grammar Activities http://ec.hku.hk/vec/grammar/gramact.htm [Gap-fill exercises from student academic papers, focusing on Prepositions and Tenses. From the English Centre, HKU.]
5. Grammar Quizzes http://www.aitech.ac.jp/~iteslj/quizzes/grammar.html [Large number of quizzes at different levels]
6. Guide to Grammar + Writing http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/index.htm [Advanced level guide to usage. Includes FAQs, interactive quizzes for learners of English, comprehensive index. Much of it is designed for native speakers, but still useful.]
7. Online Writing Lab http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl.eslstudent.html [Large collection of handouts on Grammar and Writing from Purdue University, USA]
8. Practice with Articles http://vlc.polyu.edu.hk/articles/articlestable.htm [Exercises from PolyU VLC]
9. TeleGram http://www.telenex.hku.hk/telec/sgram/main.htm [Sampler of Grammar database for Hong Kong secondary teachers. Information on passive voice and verbs.]
10. Test Bank http://www.educ.goteborg.se/usam/pforum/elpa/gramtest.html [100-item Grammar test from Goteborg University, Sweden. Can be used as Diagnostic Test or Proficiency Test.]
11. Test your English http://www.edunet.com/english/practice/test-ces.html [Diagnostic test from Colchester English Study Centre, UK]
12. Verbs Practice Exercises http://vlc.polyu.edu.hk/verbs/verbsind.htm [Exercises from PolyU VLC]