Using Visual Timelines to Teach Grammar Tenses

teikmike
15 minutes ago
2 min read

🎯 Introduction

English verb tenses can be confusing for ESL students, especially when learning past, present, and future forms. Visual timelines simplify grammar by showing when actions happen. This post demonstrates how TEFL teachers can use timelines to teach tenses clearly and effectively.

📄 Why It Matters / Why It Works

Grammar becomes more understandable when learners can see it. Timelines help students grasp:

Duration
Sequence
Completed vs ongoing actionsThey reduce abstract explanations and make grammar concrete. Visual learners especially benefit from this method.

📚 Practical Teaching Strategies

1️⃣ “Basic Tense Line” (Simple Start)

Draw a horizontal line with past–present–future.Add small icons or symbols for actions.

Example: “I walked,” “I’m walking,” “I will walk.”
Outcome: Immediate comprehension.

2️⃣ “Action Movement Cards” (Dynamic Learning)

Write verbs on small cards.Students place their card on the timeline based on the sentence you say.

Focus: Matching grammar meaning to time.

3️⃣ “Before/After Challenge” (Sequence Practice)

Give prompts:

“Before I ate breakfast, I…”
“After I finish homework, I…”Students place events on a timeline and say full sentences.
Outcome: Strong understanding of sequence words + tenses.

4️⃣ “Continuous vs Perfect Timeline” (Clarifying Confusing Tenses)

Use colored markers:

Green = continuous action
Blue = completed actionDraw overlapping or extending lines to show differences.This is especially effective for:
Present perfect vs simple past
Past continuous vs simple past

💡 Pro Tip

Always keep your timelines posted on the wall. Students naturally refer back to them, reinforcing grammar without extra explanation.

📌 Final Thought

Timelines take the mystery out of tenses and help students visualize grammar logically. GoTEFL prepares teachers to use powerful visual strategies, while TEIK connects you with schools where clear, visual grammar teaching boosts student confidence.