Syed Mohsin Rizvi Roll No. 40

Ⅰ. IntroductionⅡ. The Grammar-Translation MethodⅢ. The Direct MethodsⅣ. Audio-lingual MethodⅤ. Communicative Language TeachingⅥ. Other Teaching Methods Ⅶ. Summary

i. What Is Teaching Method? Teaching method is a way of teaching a

language which is based on systematic principles and procedures, i.e., which is an application of views on how a language is best taught and learned.

The Grammar-Translation MethodThe Direct MethodsAudio-lingualismThe Situational Language TeachingCommunicative Language TeachingHumanistic ApproachesTask-based Teaching

i. Background The grammar-translation method of foreign

language teaching is one of the most tradi-tional methods, dating back to the late nine-teenth and early twentieth centuries. It was originally used to teach 'dead' languages (and literatures) such as Latin and Greek, and this may account for its heavy bias to-wards written work to the virtual exclusion

of oral production.

Classes are taught in the students' mother tongue.

Vocabulary is taught in the form of isolated word lists.

Elaborate explanations of grammar are always provided.

Reading of difficult texts is begun early in the course of study.

Little attention is paid to the content of texts.Often the only drills are exercises in

translating disconnected sentences.Little or no attention is given to pronunciation.

No class time is allocated to allow students to produce their own sentences.

There is often little contextualization of the grammar

The type of error correction can be harmful to the students’ learning processes.

i. Background: a reaction to the grammar-translation approach in an attempt to integrate more use of the target language in instruction.

ii. The Principal CharacteristicsOnly use the target language in class.The learner should be actively involved in using

the language in realistic everyday situations.Students are encouraged to think in the target

language.First speaking is taught and then only reading

and writing.

L2 should be learned in way in which L1 was ac-quired - by total immersion technique.

It rejects use of the printed word - but this objec-tion is illogical since L2 learner has already mas-tered his reading skills.

Later disciples of Direct Method took it to extremes and refused to speak a single word of English in lessons.

Also Direct Methodists failed to grade and struc-ture their materials adequately - no selection, grading or controlled presentation of vocabulary and structures.

Q & A: The teacher asks questions of any nature and the students answer.

Dictation: The teacher chooses a grade appro-priate passage and reads the text aloud.

Reading Aloud: Students take turn reading sec-tions of a passage, play or dialog out loud.

Getting Students to Self-Correct: The teacher should have the students self-correct by offering them a choice between what they said and the proper pronunciation.

Map Drawing

i. Background This method is based on the principles of

behavior psychology. It adapted many of the principles and procedures of the Direct Method, in part as a re-action to the lack of speaking skills of the Reading Approach.

Dependence on mimicry and memorization of set phrases

Teaching structural patterns by means of repetitive drills

No grammatical explanation Learning vocabulary in context Use of tapes and visual aids Focus on pronunciation Immediate reinforcement of correct

responses

Dialog MemorizationBackward Build UpTransformation DrillComplete the DialogDictationFlashcards

i. Background The communicative approach could be said to be the

product of educators and linguists who had grown dissatisfied with the audio-lingual and grammar-translation methods of foreign language instruction.

The origins of Communicative Language Teaching are to be found in the changes in the British languages teaching tradi-tion dating from the late 1960s. Interest in and development of communicative-style teaching mushroomed in the 1970s; authentic language use and classroom exchanges where students engaged in real communication with one another became quite popular.

Learner-Centered The role of the instructor in CLT is quite differ-ent

from traditional teaching methods. In the traditional classroom, the teacher is in charge and "controls" the learning. In CLT the teacher serves as more of a facilitator, allowing stu-dents to be in charge of their own learning.

Language is used for communication. For this reason, CLT makes use of communication to teach languages. CLT emphasizes real-life situ-ations and communica-tion in context. While gra-mmar is still important in the CLT classroom, the emphasis is on communi-cating a message.  

CLT also stresses social and situational contexts of communi-cation. In CLT, stu-dents learn about language in social contexts, such as the difference between speaking with an elder and a peer.

Multimedia is an ideal way to teach lan-guage using CLT as the theory. It allows for realistic simulations of communicative situ-ations. Many such programs are games, such as "A la rencontre de Philipe" or "Who is Oscar Lake?". They place the learner in a situation in which understanding basic com-munication, and social and cultural contexts are vital to advancing in the game.

i. Humanism is described in applied linguistics as ‘language teaching respecting the integrity of learners, allowing for per-sonal growth and responsibility, taking psychological and affective factors into account, and representing “whole person learning”’. The roots of humanism in lan-guage teaching are various. One central one is the ‘discovery-learning’ movement.

The students have to be fully alert to make the most of what the teacher says to play the major part in the learning.

Various aids are used as simple pointers, or to make shapes, helping the learners de-duce the meanings for themselves.

The method has many traditional aspects, including use of traditional structural sylla-buses.

Task-based teaching has become a subject of keen contemporary interest, and different task-based approaches exist today. One underlying principle holds for all the approaches – to place the emphasis firmly on activities or tasks that learners do in class. One thing should be men-tioned is that, there are a number of features that will make tasks more or less difficult. So that we can progressively give our learners tasks where there are more and more things to think about, and consequently less and less attention available for form.

i. Comparison of Different Teaching Method

Figure 1. Teacher & Learner Roles in Different Teaching MethodsMethod Teacher’s Roles Learner’s Roles

Situational language Teaching

Context SetterError Corrector

ImitatorMemorizer

Audio-lingualism Language ModelerDrill Leader

Pattern PracticerAccuracy Enthusiast

Communicative Language Teaching

Needs AnalystTask Designer

ImproviserNegotiator

Total Physical Response CommanderAction Monitor

CommanderAction Monitor

Community Language Learning

CounselorParaphraser

CollaboratorWhole Person

The Natural Approach Actor Props User

Guesser Immerser

Suggestopedia Auto-hypnotistAuthority Figure

RelaxerTrue-Believer

The future is always uncertain, and this is no less true in anticipating methodological directions in second language teaching than in any other field. Some current predictions assume the carrying on and refinement of current trends; others appear a bit more science-fiction-like in their vision.

However, the future of L2 teaching methodologies, as yet not fully explored, is associated with what might be called a ‘cognitive approach to language learning’. Perhaps this cognitive, or information-processing approach is where the future lies.