Language Teaching Methods & Approaches

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Communicative Language Teaching (CLT)

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A method emphasizing interaction as both the means and goal of learning a language. Focuses on real-life communication and fluency over accuracy; role-plays and group discussions are common.

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Language Experience Approach (LEA)

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Integrates reading and writing by using learners’ own language and experiences to create texts. A teacher transcribes a student's spoken story, which becomes a reading text.

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Community Language Learning (CLL)

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A method where learners work in a circle and speak their language needs, which the teacher translates and guides. Builds confidence and community by reducing learner anxiety.

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Audiolingual Method

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Emphasizes repetition and drills based on behaviorist psychology. Learners practice dialogues and pattern drills to internalize structures.

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Grammar Translation Model

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A traditional method focusing on grammatical rules and translating sentences. Used mostly for academic purposes, not communicative competence.

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Suggestopedia

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Uses relaxation and music to create a comfortable learning environment for language acquisition. Encourages memorization of dialogues in a calm setting.

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Expository Writing Program Model

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Teaches structured, factual writing used in academic settings. Helps ELLs learn to write essays and reports with clarity and logic.

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Portfolio Assessment

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Collects students’ work over time to show progress and learning. Used for reflective evaluation rather than high-stakes testing.

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Validity (internal, content, predictive, consequential)

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Internal: The degree to which the test measures what it intends to within itself. Content: Alignment of test content with instructional goals. Predictive: How well test scores forecast future performance. Consequential: Social impact of the test’s use. Guides selection of fair and meaningful assessments for ELLs.

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Feedback (positive, indirect, direct, metalinguistic)

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Positive: Encouragement or affirmation. Indirect: Hints that an error exists without correcting it. Direct: Explicitly states the correct form. Metalinguistic: Provides grammatical explanation. Helps learners understand and correct errors constructively.