Rethinking Grammar Instruction with the NUFU Framework

Join Anna and Shé on the latest episode of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast as they explore a practical and research-informed approach to grammar instruction with ESL teacher and founder of The ESL Grammar Gallery, Audrea Gold. Together they unpack the NUFU framework—Noticing, Understanding, Forming, and Using—and what it offers teachers who want to move beyond rule-based grammar teaching toward more meaningful, communicative practice.

This conversation challenges the idea that grammar should be taught as isolated structures to memorize, instead positioning it as a tool for meaning-making and expression. Audrea walks listeners through each stage of the NUFU framework, showing how intentional sequencing—from exposure to application—can help learners not only understand grammar, but actually use it with confidence. 

“The NUFU framework asks how we can put less of the onus on teachers and more on the students so that they take more responsibility for their learning and are more engaged as a result.” — Audrea Gold

Through concrete examples, reflective insights, and classroom-ready ideas, this episode invites educators to rethink how grammar is introduced, practiced, and applied—offering a clear pathway toward instruction that truly sticks.

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