Garden Path Method in Grammar Instruction

The teachers of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) are faced with a pressing challenge in finding an effective technique for grammar instruction. This study investigated whether Garden Path Method is responsible for the success in learning English as a foreign language of second year Teacher Education students in order to prepare them for higher- level English courses. The instrument used in the study is a TOEFL Test which consists of four parts: structure; written expression; vocabulary; and reading comprehension. As indicated by the pre-test mean scores of the two groups, the EFL second year teacher education students perform well on structure and vocabulary tests, whereas written expression and reading comprehension are two areas where EFL learners suffer. In order to help EFL students improve their reading comprehension, language teachers will need to provide more written expression and reading comprehension projects and drills, as well as apply a range of reading methodologies. Furthermore, the results indicated that the garden path method is beneficial.

Keywords- English as a Foreign Language, Garden Path Method, Teacher Education, Test