What is the recommended sequence for teaching grammar in a communicative Spanish classroom?

• A. Teach grammar first in isolation, then practice.
• B. Teach grammar in meaningful contexts, emphasize communicative use during tasks, provide explicit instruction when needed, and recycle forms through spiraling activities.
• C. Focus only on vocabulary and ignore grammar.
• D. Use only drills with no context.

Answer: (B)

In a communicative Spanish classroom, grammar is learned through meaningful use rather than taught in isolation. Students engage in tasks that require real communication, and the focus on the target form arises naturally as they work toward those communicative goals. When learners stumble or when a specific structure is needed to complete a task, you provide concise, explicit instruction about that form, then return to task-based activities that recycle the structure in different contexts. This spiraling repetition helps students notice, practice, and automatize the grammar while they maintain fluency in communication. This approach supports both accurate use and expressive ability, aligning with how language is actually learned and used. Teaching grammar first in isolation, focusing only on vocabulary, or drilling without context don’t promote meaningful, transferable language skills.