The Pragmatic Function of Grammar Teaching within a Thematic Framework: Constructing a "Theme-Function" Teaching Model
Journal: Journal of Higher Education Research DOI: 10.32629/jher.v6i6.4690
Abstract
To address the long-standing problems in traditional grammar teaching — namely, the separation of form from function and the challenge of translating knowledge into communicative competence — this paper adopts the three-dimensional dynamic grammar approach (form-meaning-use) from China's English Curriculum Standards for Senior High Schools and Halliday's Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) as its theoretical foundations." It critiques the ineffectiveness of isolated, mechanical grammar drills and proposes a theme-led and function-oriented approach. Grounded in the three metafunctions of SFG, this study re-examines the pragmatic value of grammar in thematic contexts and constructs a four-step teaching model: Functional Awareness, Inquiry and Induction, Contextualized Practicing, and Integrated Production. Illustrated with teaching examples under the theme of "Cultural Heritage," the model aims to equip teachers with strategies for transforming grammatical knowledge into tools for effective communication, thereby enhancing the efficacy of grammar instruction and fostering students' core competences.
Keywords
grammar teaching, systemic functional grammar, three-dimensional dynamic grammar approach, pragmatic function
Full Text
PDF - Viewed/Downloaded: 2 TimesReferences
[1]Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. English Curriculum Standards for Senior High Schools (2017 Edition, 2020 Revision) [S]. Beijing: People's Education Press, 2020.
[2]Liu Qian. Practical Research on the Integration of Reductionism and Holism in English Grammar Teaching - Taking Attributive Clause Teaching as an Example [J]. Foreign Language Teaching in Primary and Secondary Schools (Middle School), 2025, 48(9): 39-44.
[3]Liu Zhengfang, Yin Heng. High School English Grammar Teaching Guided by Thematic Meaning - Taking Attributive Clause Teaching as an Example [J]. Foreign Language Teaching in Primary and Secondary Schools (Middle School), 2020, 43(7): 55-60.
[4]Zhao Linlin. On How to Optimize Junior High School English Grammar Teaching Based on Thematic Context [J]. English Teacher, 2024, 24(8): 162-164.
[5]Xu Qiujuan. Practice of Implementing English Grammar Teaching in the Process of Thematic Meaning Exploration [J]. Foreign Language Teaching in Primary and Secondary Schools (Middle School), 2020, 43(9): 55-60.
[6]Wu Ying. Practice of Junior High School English Grammar Teaching Based on Thematic Meaning Exploration [J]. Foreign Language Teaching in Primary and Secondary Schools (Middle School), 2022, 45(5): 37-42.
[7]Zheng Xue, Li Huifang, Cao Xi. Practice of Junior High School English Grammar Teaching Oriented to Thematic Meaning Exploration [J]. English Learning, 2023, (10): 69-72.
[2]Liu Qian. Practical Research on the Integration of Reductionism and Holism in English Grammar Teaching - Taking Attributive Clause Teaching as an Example [J]. Foreign Language Teaching in Primary and Secondary Schools (Middle School), 2025, 48(9): 39-44.
[3]Liu Zhengfang, Yin Heng. High School English Grammar Teaching Guided by Thematic Meaning - Taking Attributive Clause Teaching as an Example [J]. Foreign Language Teaching in Primary and Secondary Schools (Middle School), 2020, 43(7): 55-60.
[4]Zhao Linlin. On How to Optimize Junior High School English Grammar Teaching Based on Thematic Context [J]. English Teacher, 2024, 24(8): 162-164.
[5]Xu Qiujuan. Practice of Implementing English Grammar Teaching in the Process of Thematic Meaning Exploration [J]. Foreign Language Teaching in Primary and Secondary Schools (Middle School), 2020, 43(9): 55-60.
[6]Wu Ying. Practice of Junior High School English Grammar Teaching Based on Thematic Meaning Exploration [J]. Foreign Language Teaching in Primary and Secondary Schools (Middle School), 2022, 45(5): 37-42.
[7]Zheng Xue, Li Huifang, Cao Xi. Practice of Junior High School English Grammar Teaching Oriented to Thematic Meaning Exploration [J]. English Learning, 2023, (10): 69-72.
Copyright © 2026 Jiaxin Jiang
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License