The two major justifications for the traditional grammar curriculum in Dutch schools are: (1) its superiority to direct skill training in improving general language ability; and (2) its facilitation of teaching and learning foreign languages. An evaluative investigation, which included a literature review and logbook and textbook surveys, found no…

Results from 53 classes of Dutch lower secondary school students (over 1,000 students) supported the effectiveness of a traditional course in German for grammar and vocabulary achievement. In comparison, a communication-oriented course was more popular with students and more effective in promoting communication skills. (SLD)