It may be that the teachers simply do not know the grammar! As a native speaker, you often don't learn any grammar - the first time I ever learnt any grammar was when I learnt a second language. You can certainly learn a language without grammar - after all, that is how we all learn our native language - by absorbing it.
But grammar does make it easier to learn, and how important it is depends a lot on how an individual learns. Some people learn better by absorbing, some by remembering rules. Having both available is obvious best to cover both styles.
It is also important not to overstress the importance of grammar, particularly in a language like English, which is so irregular, and more importantly, that is not defined by its grammar. Grammar is just a description and interpretation of the way people write and talk.