What is the Place of Grammar in Language Teaching?

Half-heartedly=half + heart + ed + ly

Not transparent. Can be understood by intermediate level students. Meaning is figurative. Means lack of interest or enthusiasm as in “half-heartedly” response. I would teach this word to higher levels such as intermediate and upper intermediate because it is not a common word for the elementary level and it may be confusing for the learners. ““Half-heartedly” has two free morphemes (half and heart) and two bound morphemes (-ed, past tense morpheme and -ly). “Half-heartedly” is an adverb that can be defined as; lacking heart, spirit, or interest. The meaning is almost metaphoric therefore, I would teach the word using examples such as; ‘He tried to help him half-heartedly’. It may be difficult for the learners to infer the meaning by dividing it to its morphemes; the meaning is not concrete, as in having an actual half heart.

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  Left-winger=left + wing + er
  

I would not prefer to teach my students unless they are advanced and this word is hard to understand. Not transparent. It is a political term. This word is composed of two free (left and wing) morphemes and one bound morpheme (-er, person with this characteristic). Knowing the meaning of the words “left” and “winger” will not help the learners infer the meaning which can be defined as; the part of a political group that consists of people who support liberal or socialist ideas and policies.” You'll see the looniest elements of the left wing on full display.”

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  Birthday card=birth +day + card
  

I would choose to teach this word to any level of English learners because this word has three free morphemes it means” a card expressing a birthday greeting”. Highly transparent. Generally understood. This word is easily understood by the learners.” She got a nice birthday card from her friends”. Even before they learn the language they are generally familiar with terms about ‘birthdays’.

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