Language Sciences, Volume 12, Number 2/3. pp. 221-242. 1990 0388-0001/90 $3.00+.00 Pruned in Great Brttain Pergamon Press plc Genre: ‘Verbal Tailoring from Ready-made Cloth’?’ Joseph Foley The National University of Singapore zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcb ABSTRACT In recent years the notion of Genre and genre-based approaches to teaching in the classroom have become a stgntficant topic of discussion in applied linguistics. Theoretically the basis IS that of a systematic-functional model of language which explains how language works within different contexts. The focus on the relationship between language and the context means that the theory can account for language variation across dtfferent registers and across the different genres that students need to speak, listen to, read or write. It treats language at the level of text rather than simply at the level of sentence, as do many other approaches. It will be argued here that the concept of genre IS not only useful in the first language but also in the second and foreign language classroom. In recent years the notion of Genre and genre-based approaches to teaching in the classroom have become a significant topic of discussion in applied linguistics. It (Genre) is based on a functional model of language, which systematically describes the relation\htp between the context in whtch language occurs and the actual language used. This model through its theory of register and descrtption of grammar and discourse, relates context of culture and context of situation to actual language use It is based on the belief that grammar Itself is functional, that ts, language is organized in the way it IS because of the meanings it realizes (Hammond 1987: 164). Hammond (1987) has already given an overview of the genre-based approach to the teaching of writing in the Australian context. I would like to broaden the discus- sion and outline the theoretical basis for this concept of genre and show why it is so important for teaching both in first language and second language (ESL/EFL) classrooms.