Yeah, fiat problem for sure. It's teacher-oriented instruction. It's easier to grade fill-in-the-blanks than to cultivate a natural open-ended environment. And it allows every student a method for obtaining a passing grade through rote memorization regardless of actual fluency or understanding.

coffeebadger

I think grammar is a bit overrated in language learning, I tend not to pay too much attention to it at first. Natives can understand what you mean anyway. And with fluent speaking practice, you can get the feel for it (the way kids naturally learn). That's why I really don't like how most schools teach languages, which tend to focus too much on grammar and words that have so little real-world use.