Teaching Tips for Tricky English Grammar (Coursera)

Teaching Tips for Tricky English Grammar (Coursera)

This is the third course in the Teach English: Intermediate Grammar specialization. It will be useful to ESL teachers or those interested in learning to teach English language, but it is not an introduction to teaching course. You will learn about some specific problems students have learning intermediate grammar. You will learn why students have trouble with this tricky grammar and find out new ways to help students conquer it.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

You will also learn a variety of activities for teaching this content in a fun and interesting way. Finally, you will have opportunities to practice the skills you learn by creating sample assignments and recording short videos of your teaching demonstrations using a video camera, webcam, or smartphone. Learners wanting a grade will be required to submit short videos of their teaching skills.
Only learners who pay for the course will be able to take the graded quizzes or submit assignments for feedback. The free version provides access to the lectures and practice activities only.
Course 3 of 4 in the Teach English: Intermediate Grammar Specialization.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Welcome
This is the third course in the Learn English: Intermediate Grammar specialization. Learning English can be tricky, and in this class you'll focus on some of those tricky issues. You'll get clear explanations about the difficult grammar points and practice in using them correctly.
Teaching Nouns, Articles, and Quantifiers
This week, you'll learn about teaching tricky nouns, articles, and quantifiers. Students get confused about when to put "a" or "the" in front of a noun and when to put nothing in front of the noun. In this module, you'll learn new ways to help them with this difficult grammar, and you'll have an opportunity to create your own lesson and submit a video demonstrating your teaching skills.

WEEK 2
Teaching Gerunds, Infinitives, and Requests and Permission
This week will learn more about teaching tricky grammar. First, you'll learn about teaching gerunds and infinitives. Then you'll learn about teaching two concepts with modals--making requests and asking for permission--grammar that English learners often make mistakes with.

WEEK 3
Teaching Confusing Word Forms
You've learned about teaching some tricky grammar, but there are other things that make English hard to learn. This week, you'll learn about teaching some word forms that cause confusion. You'll also get another chance to practice what you've learned and demonstrate your teaching skills by sharing a video of your teacher talk.

WEEK 4
Teaching Phrasal Verbs and Collocations
In the final week of the course, you'll learn about teaching phrasal verbs and collocations. This tricky grammar also causes problems for students even at higher levels. You'll get one more chance to create an effective activity for students to practice this grammar and to create a video demonstrating your teacher talk.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Academic Discussions in English (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, Irvine

Academic Discussions in English (Coursera)

This is the third course in the Learn English: Advanced Speaking and Listening specialization. In this class you will learn about different types of conversations you will have in academic settings. You will also learn some strategies for helping you understand other people's meaning and for helping you express yourself effectively.

Aug 31st 2026
4 Weeks
English and Academic Preparation - Pre-Collegiate (Coursera) Coursera
Rice University

English and Academic Preparation - Pre-Collegiate (Coursera)

The English and Academic Preparation - Pre-Collegiate course is for students with a (minimum) high-intermediate level of English. It is designed to help international students develop the academic skills necessary for success in undergraduate studies at an American university while strengthening their English proficiency. Ideally, prospective students have completed or are near completion of a high school diploma in their country and would like to come to the United States to study for a bachelor’s degree.

Sep 7th 2026
4 Weeks
Business English: Planning & Negotiating (Coursera) Coursera
University of Washington

Business English: Planning & Negotiating (Coursera)

In this course, the context is hosting an event and finding an appropriate venue for it. You will learn language and strategies for successful negotiations culminating in a written announcement for an event. Course Learning Objectives: negotiate strategically in formal and informal settings; identify and resolve customer issues after a negotiation has taken place; evaluate and compare services and features of two venues; plan a business event using negotiation skills; write an announcement for a business event after selecting a venue.

Aug 31st 2026
4 Weeks
First Step Korean (Coursera) Coursera
Yonsei University

First Step Korean (Coursera)

This is an elementary-level Korean language course, consisting of 5 lessons with 4 units, and covers 4 skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. The main topics include basic expressions used in everyday life, such as greetings, introducing yourself, talking about your family and a daily life and so on. Each lesson covers dialogues, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, quizzes and role-plays.

Sep 7th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Teach English Now! Theories of Second Language Acquisition (Coursera) Coursera
Arizona State University

Teach English Now! Theories of Second Language Acquisition (Coursera)

In this course learners are introduced to second or foreign language theories and practices for teaching and assessing listening, speaking, and pronunciation. Learners will also be introduced to basic studies in second language acquisition and their pedagogical implications. Teachers will be invited to recognize the importance of grounding their own teaching philosophy through an examination of purpose, content, and technique.

Aug 31st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Strategies for Teaching Perfect Tenses and Modals (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, Irvine

Strategies for Teaching Perfect Tenses and Modals (Coursera)

This is the first course in the Teach English: Intermediate Grammar specialization. In this course, you will learn about teaching important intermediate verb tenses, including present perfect, present perfect progressive, past perfect, and past perfect progressive. You will also learn about teaching common modal verbs used in English. Finally, you will have opportunities to practice the skills you learn by creating sample assignments and recording short videos of your teaching demonstrations.

Aug 31st 2026
4 Weeks
Business English: Meetings (Coursera) Coursera
University of Washington

Business English: Meetings (Coursera)

This course will teach you vocabulary and skills related to participating in meetings. You will learn terms and phrases used both in email and in speaking to arrange, participate in, and conclude meetings. The goals of this course are to enable you to participate effectively in on-site meetings and teleconferences and to prepare you to write a proposal as an outcome of a meeting.

Sep 14th 2026
4 Weeks
English Intermediate B1.2 (Coursera) Coursera
University of Naples Federico II

English Intermediate B1.2 (Coursera)

Welcome to the second and final course in our B1 program! English is the most important international language for the workplace and for study, and this second course will help you improve your language skills even further to reach the convincing intermediate level you need to work, study or travel abroad. The varied learning activities will enable you to communicate on a variety of more complex topics like the digital university, the climate and the environment, and looking after your health.

Sep 14th 2026
5-12 Weeks
English for Career Development (Coursera) Coursera
University of Pennsylvania

English for Career Development (Coursera)

Welcome to English for Career Development, a course created by the University of Pennsylvania, and funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of English Language Programs. This course is designed for non-native English speakers who are interested in advancing their careers in the global marketplace. In this course, you will learn about the job search, application, and interview process in the United States, while comparing and contrasting the same process in your home country. This course will also give you the opportunity to explore your global career path, while building your vocabulary and improving your language skills to achieve your professional goals.

Aug 31st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Conjunctions, Connectives, and Adverb Clauses (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, Irvine

Conjunctions, Connectives, and Adverb Clauses (Coursera)

This is the second course in the Learn English: Advanced Grammar and Punctuation specialty. In this course, you will learn about a lot of different ways to join ideas to make more complex and interesting sentences. You'll learn about two types of conjunctions, many other types of connectives, and adverb clauses. You'll also learn about how to punctuate all of these expressions and the types of sentences they create. All of this is grammar you must know to have a high fluency in English.

Aug 31st 2026
4 Weeks
Preparing for Graduate Study in the U.S.: A course for international students (Coursera) Coursera
University of Michigan

Preparing for Graduate Study in the U.S.: A course for international students (Coursera)

This course prepares you to embark upon your future graduate studies in the U.S. with confidence. In this MOOC, you'll have the opportunity to meet other prospective graduate students, hear from experienced international graduate students in the United States, and to practice sharing your own thoughts, stories, and expertise in English. You’ll select a “target” graduate program at a U.S. college or university to use as a case study throughout the course.

Aug 31st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Business English: Marketing and Sales (Coursera) Coursera
Arizona State University

Business English: Marketing and Sales (Coursera)

If you work in marketing, sales, or advertising, you already know that effective communication is a requirement. This can be even more difficult when expressing your ideas in a persuasive manner in English. In this course, you will learn to use English more efficiently while joining successful global professionals around the world.

Sep 14th 2026
5-12 Weeks