Teaching Tenses: Ideas for Presenting and Practising Tenses in English
by Rosemary Aitken is a staple resource for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers, particularly those in CELTA or TESOL training. It focuses on the practical application of grammar—showing teachers not just how tenses work, but how to present them in a way students can actually grasp. Core Content & Structure
The book is organized by tense families rather than simple alphabetical order to better explain conceptual relationships:
Present Section: Includes Present Simple, Continuous, and (uniquely) the Present Perfect, as it relates to current time.
Past Section: Covers Past Simple, Continuous, and Perfect forms, along with structures like "used to" and "was going to".
Future Section: Explains "will/shall," "going to," and various future continuous/perfect forms.
Specialized Sections: Dedicated chapters for Conditionals, Modal Auxiliaries, and Passive structures.
Appendices & Resources: Includes emphatic tenses, tag questions, and a section of photocopiable materials for classroom use. Key Features for Teachers
Concept Questions (CCQs): Provides specific questions to check if students truly understand the nuances between tenses (e.g., "I eat" vs. "I am eating").
Timelines: Uses visual graphics to represent how different tenses relate to time, helping learners visualize abstract grammar.
Learner Error Analysis: Identifies common mistakes for each tense, including mispronunciations and misusages specific to non-native speakers.
Practicality over Theory: While it includes phonetic realizations and form analysis, it is designed as a "dipping in" handbook for lesson planning rather than a scholarly grammar book. Where to Find It
Digital previews and full versions are often hosted on educational document platforms: Teaching Tenses Rosemary Aitken PDF - Scribd
Teaching Tenses Made Easy: A Rosemary Aitken Approach
Teaching tenses can be a daunting task for many English language instructors. However, with the right approach, it can be a breeze. Rosemary Aitken, a renowned ELT author, has developed a simple yet effective method for teaching tenses. In this post, we'll explore her approach and provide you with practical tips and resources to make teaching tenses a snap. teaching tenses rosemary aitken pdf
The Problem with Tenses
Tenses are a fundamental aspect of the English language, but they can be tricky to teach and learn. Students often struggle to understand the different tenses, their forms, and usage. Traditional methods of teaching tenses often involve lengthy explanations, complex grammar rules, and tedious exercises. This can lead to confusion, frustration, and a lack of motivation among students.
Rosemary Aitken's Approach
Rosemary Aitken's approach to teaching tenses focuses on simplicity, clarity, and practice. Her method is based on the idea that tenses are best learned through a combination of explanation, examples, and exercises. Here are the key principles of her approach:
Teaching Tenses with Rosemary Aitken's PDF Resources
Rosemary Aitken has developed a range of PDF resources to support teachers in teaching tenses. These resources include:
Tips for Teaching Tenses
Here are some additional tips for teaching tenses using Rosemary Aitken's approach:
Conclusion
Teaching tenses doesn't have to be a daunting task. By using Rosemary Aitken's approach and resources, you can make teaching tenses a enjoyable and rewarding experience for both you and your students. Remember to start with the basics, use timelines, focus on meaning, and provide plenty of practice opportunities. With these tips and resources, you'll be well on your way to helping your students master the complexities of English tenses.
Download Rosemary Aitken's PDF Resources
You can download Rosemary Aitken's PDF resources, including tense charts, example sentences, and exercises, from her website. These resources are designed to be flexible and adaptable to your teaching style and needs.
By incorporating Rosemary Aitken's approach and resources into your teaching practice, you'll be able to help your students develop a deeper understanding of English tenses and improve their overall language skills.
This essay examines Teaching Tenses: Ideas for Presenting and Practising Tenses in English Rosemary Aitken Teaching Tenses: Ideas for Presenting and Practising Tenses
, a critical resource for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) educators.
The Role of Rosemary Aitken’s "Teaching Tenses" in Modern EFL Instruction Introduction
For many novice English teachers, explaining the subtle nuances of verb tenses is one of the most daunting aspects of the classroom. Rosemary Aitken’s Teaching Tenses
has become a staple for those undergoing CELTA or TESOL training precisely because it bridges the gap between complex linguistic theory and practical, "ready-to-use" classroom application. Core Philosophical Approach
Aitken argues that verb tenses are inherently difficult because their "concept boundaries" are often invisible to non-native speakers. Unlike concrete nouns, tenses represent abstract relationships with time. Her book focuses on three pillars for every structure:
: How the tense is physically constructed (e.g., spelling rules, phonetics, and contractions). Meaning/Function
: Why we use a specific tense in a particular context, such as the difference between a routine ("I eat") and a progressive action ("I am eating"). Concept Checking
: Providing teachers with specific questions to verify that students truly understand the underlying logic of the tense. Structure and Practical Utility
The text is designed as a "dip-in" reference rather than a sequential read. It is divided into logical sections covering Present, Past, Future, Conditional, and Passive structures. Each chapter addresses common learner errors, helping teachers anticipate and correct mistakes before they become ingrained. Furthermore, it includes a bank of photocopiable activities that provide immediate context and practice for students. Conclusion
Rosemary Aitken’s work remains essential because it empowers teachers with "practical working principles" rather than just scholarly analysis. By focusing on meaningful context and clear presentation, it helps transform an abstract grammatical hurdle into an accessible part of a student's linguistic repertoire.
Rosemary Aitken Teaching Tenses is widely regarded as a essential resource for English language teachers, particularly those in CELTA or TESOL training. Unlike standard grammar books, it focuses on the practical "how-to" of bringing verb structures to life in the classroom through meaningful contexts and visual aids like timelines. Key Concepts and Book Structure
The book is structured into sections covering major verb groups, followed by a resource bank of photocopiable materials:
Verb Groups: Dedicated sections for Present, Past, Future, Conditional, Passive, and Modal Auxiliaries.
The Three Pillars: For every tense, Aitken provides a detailed breakdown of its Form, Meaning, and Function. Start with the basics : Begin by introducing
Contextual Teaching: She emphasizes that tenses should be taught in situations where native speakers would genuinely use them, rather than through isolated rules. Notable Features for Teachers
Concept Checking Questions (CCQs): Includes specific questions to help teachers verify that students actually understand the nuances of a tense (e.g., the difference between "I eat" for routines and "I am eating" for actions now).
Learner Error Analysis: Every chapter highlights common mistakes, including mispronunciations and mishearings, helping teachers anticipate student struggles.
Visual Aids: Suggests the use of pictures, diagrams, and timetables to clarify complex temporal boundaries. Accessing the Text
While the physical book is published by ELB Publishing, digital versions and summaries for study purposes are often found on educational platforms:
Scribd: Offers various uploads of the Teaching Tenses PDF for online viewing or download. Internet Archive: Provides a version for digital borrowing. Teaching Tenses - Rosemary Aitken | PDF - Scribd
Aitken’s specific code is vital:
Practice drawing these before class. The PDF provides ready-made scripts for you to read while drawing.
You might wonder why a book published originally in the 1990s by Longman (now part of Pearson Education) continues to dominate teacher wish-lists and forum requests for PDFs. The answer is simple: It bridges the gap between linguistic theory and classroom reality.
Most grammar books tell you what a tense is. Aitken tells you how to teach it.
Teachers search for the PDF version for three primary reasons:
Let’s look at how the PDF content solves real teaching problems.
Many teachers over-teach the Past Perfect. Aitken uses a simple narrative technique: "The Past Perfect is not about 'time before the past'; it is about clarity." She provides a narrative scramble exercise where students must reorder a story (e.g., "When the police arrived, the thief had left") to visualize the sequence of events.
