Which method involves telling students grammatical rules first before they apply them?

The correct choice focuses on a teaching strategy where students are presented with grammatical rules explicitly before they engage in their application through exercises or practice. This approach allows learners to have a clear understanding of the rules that govern the language, leading to a structured way of learning.

In this method, the teacher typically explains the grammatical concepts, such as verb tenses or sentence structure, and then provides examples. After the rules have been established, students will practice using the grammar in various contexts. This can create a solid foundation for their learning because students know the framework within which they will be operating, enabling them to better analyze and construct sentences correctly.

Other methods, such as spontaneous learning or inductive teaching, emphasize discovery and application prior to explicit rule instruction, often relying on learners to observe patterns and derive rules on their own. Conversational practice focuses on using language in context without a primary emphasis on grammatical structures, which also differs from the deductive method's more structured approach. Therefore, understanding the distinctiveness of the deductive approach helps clarify why it stands out as a systematic way of teaching grammar.