Suzanne W. Woodward. Fun with Grammar: Communicative Activities for the Azar Grammar Series. , Education Usa, 1997.

Fun with Grammar describes exactly what teachers and students should do with grammar: they should have fun with it. For me as a teacher, grammar class is always an opportunity for fun. I cannot imagine dry and dull ESL/EFL grammar classes. During classtime there are, of course, periods of focused concentration, especially during the first phases of a new unit when the students are trying to grasp an initial understanding of the form and meaning of a structure. We, as teachers, should know that even during those phases, explanations and examples can be enlivened by funny sentences using the students' names or by fun demonstrations or pantomimes. Fun and humor are essential in ESL/EFL classrooms. Interaction and group participation engage students and make information more memorable and relevant. In my experience, many people approach grammar far too seriously, with long, unsmiling faces, in plodding academic style. That is not how I approach grammar nor how I intend teachers to approach my textbooks. Perhaps it should go without saying, but I am going to say it anyway: I heartily endorse having Fun with Grammar! This resource book by Suzanne Woodward is exciting because it collects, categorizes, and details fun communicative activities to use in the classroom. Many teachers make up games as they go along and create interactive activities out of grammar exercises. With this book, teachers have an excellent resource for ideas and materials to support and expand upon the activities that make grammar fun. The text is subtitled "Communicative Activities for the Azar Grammar Series" because the author's activities grew out of actual teaching experience using the Azar series. The exercises and activities in Fun with Grammar fit beautifully with the approaches and material in the Azar grammar textbooks, but are independent enough to be suitable for use with any grammar textbook. The activities in Fun with Grammar can also be used in other kinds of classes such as writing classes or speaking/listening classes quite independent of any grammar text or grammar focus to the class. For grammar (whether presented and practiced deliberately or not) underlies all skills. This resource book is a practical and welcome tool for busy teachers. It provides all the resources needed, and they are right at your fingertips! The games and worksheets reflect and give structure to what actually goes on in effective ESL/EFL classrooms. In addition, teachers have a wealth of material for fun, interesting classroom activities. This book presents clever, innovative ways of creating authentic communication in a cooperative learning environment. Enjoy!