Grammar Teaching/Learning

I always tell students the best way to learn a grammar point is by memorizing an example sentence and then making sentences with the new pattern. Usually, before they are invited to make sentences, I ask them questions using the pattern. This way, they know they're learning something they can use to talk about their life. For example, today when teaching the pattern S + be + the first/second/.../last N to V, I asked students who the first man to step on the moon was. I also asked individual students, "Who was the first person to say 'I love you' to you?" and "Who was the first person in the class to talk to you at the beginning of this semester?" With meaningful practice, grammar teaching/learning is more interesting.