Why is it that UK (seconday school) students have a very poor knowledge of English grammar?

Question

Why is it that UK (seconday school) students have a very poor knowledge of English grammar?

Answer 1

Sh*t teachers..just kidding. It depends on what sort of area they're from really, and the media and influences from across the Atlantic make it seem normal

Answer 2

First thing, so many English teachers aren't bloody English! A foreign person cannot teach students the language when they don't have a grasp of it.

Second, instead of focusing on grammar, spelling and all other things that actually matter they seem to think it's  better to teach Shakespeare and various other useless subjects.

So I don't agree it is anything to do with the students, I believe it is the teachers and/or schools.

Answer 3

I dont think so. I think they have perfect knowledge of grammar.

Answer 4

not all of them but yes parents and teacher dont focus enough on reading and so children fall behind

Answer 5

I passed my english exam but found that the teachers did not help much. They seem to think that everyone can remember all of the rules etc from primary school, but with hundreds of different rules for using grammer not everyone will get it. I say most of it is now corrected.

I have known  people not to bother altogether with English saying that we speak english why do we have to write it etc. This can be seen as the norm and needs to be corrected. I am fed up of looking on forums where someone trys to explain something but does not use grammer!

Answer 6

Because it appears that everyone in the teaching profession has entirely taken leave of their senses. Have you read this?

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20080630/t...

Answer 7

because for some reason it's 'cool' to sound like a complete idiot :( I was a secondary school student 4 years ago, I was never that bad I promise :D

Answer 8

because english is not being taught the way it used to be pre 80's, in my opinion primary schools tend to let the pupils get away with not spelling properly (write as you think). primary school should be where it all starts.

Answer 9

Because it's not taught to the same extent it was taught in the 50s and before.

When I was at school we were not taught grammar at all (70s/80s) as the political free-thinking concept was that we'd just pick it up.  It was only when I began learning a foreign language that I realised we had grammar.

I still find grammar difficult to teach: not because I don't know it but because I don't know the 'rules'.  I always have to go back and check my material and resources in case I'm missing something important.  Nowadays there is more of a movement towards teaching grammar again, but it's generally taught in short introductions to lessons, rather than being a whole term of work.

Answer 10

because they think its "cool" to use street slang, i also think text messaging doesnt help, they abbreviate everything and it then gets used in conversation. My daughter who is 14 sent me a text and i didnt understand any off it,,,whats the point?

Answer 11

Its down to modern 'yoof' culture where it is cool to sound thick.

Answer 12

It’s not always true. I’m in a secondary school and my English is immaculate. I’m not even British for that matter even though I moved to the UK a few years ago. My predicted GCSEs let alone English are A/A*s. Even though they didn’t let me into a Grammar, that doesn’t mean that secondary school is poo! I spent a year in a Grammar school before I had to move to a different one and the kids there didn’t speak perfect English either!

But yeah, kids do think they’re just that extra bit cool if they speak abnormal English!