Topic 13

- Grammatical rules are taught deductively

- Vocabulary is studied with its translation

- Students have to pass written exams

- The classroom language is students mother tongue

Students are immersed in translations and in the construction of sentences. It does not pay attention to the communicative use of language in society.

• Grammar Translation Method

• The Direct Method

• The Audiolingual Method

It consists of a series of techniques based on the natural principles that will be used later by Krashen to create the Natural Approach.- Meaning is communicated in a direct way, through its association with actions, objects, mime, gestures and situations

- Only the foreign language could be used in the classroom

- Emphasis is focused in correct pronunciation (accuracy)

- Reading and writing are taught after oral expression

- Grammar is taught through induction

- Teacher must be a native speaker or be really competent in the foreign language

• Grammar Translation Method

• The Direct Method

• The Audiolingual Method

It appeared in the USA and was extremely popular during War World II and the 50s and 60s. This one differs from the direct method in the incorporation of a linguistic foundation (Structuralism: language as a system of structures governed by established series of rules and the use of contrastive analysis) and a psycho-pedagogical principle (behaviourism: language is learnt by the acquisition of correct habits, due to the repetition of models and a control of form). Some of its principles are:- More emphasis in oral skills than in written ones

- The learners’ mother tongue was not used in the class

- A great effort to prevent linguistic errors

- The teacher must be proficiency only with regard the structures and the vocabulary

• Grammar Translation Method

• The Direct Method

• The Audiolingual Method

It incorporated situational contexts for the presentation of language; for instance: at school, at home, shopping...Therefore, structures were sequenced not only with regard to their grammatical difficulty, but also with the context where they were often used in.

• The Oral/Situational Language Teaching

• The Cognitive Approach

• The Humanistic Approach

It gives importance to active participation of students in the process of learning and using the language, especially in the learning of grammatical rules. The communicative approach shares some of its principles:

- Learners are responsible for their own learning

- Grammar must be taught deductively or inductively

- Errors must be viewed as inevitable, something that should be used constructively

One of the tendencies which follows this approach is the silent way

• The Oral/Situational Language Teaching

• The Cognitive Approach

• The Humanistic Approach

Some principles are:

- Development of human values

- Growth in self awareness and in the understanding of the others

- Communication that is meaningful to the learner is emphasised

- Peer support and interaction is needed for learning

• The Oral/Situational Language Teaching

• The Cognitive Approach

• The Humanistic Approach

Learning a foreign language is very similar to first language acquisition. Some of its principles are:

- Listening comprehension is viewed as the basic skill that will allow speaking, reading and writing to be developed

- Learners should not speak until they feel ready to do it

- Learners progress by being exposed to meaningful input that is just one step beyond students level of competence

- Error correction is seen unnecessary and even counterproductive

• The Comprehension Based Approach

• The Communicative Approach

• The Silent Way

This is an approach that is based on generative grammar and constructivism. The degree to which a speaker is successful in communicating is measured by the appropriateness and effectiveness of the message. Its main principles are: 

- The language’s content includes semantic notions and social functions

- Students regularly work in pairs or groups to transfer meanings in situations where one person has the information that the others lack

- Students adjust their use of language to different social contexts

• The Comprehension Based Approach

• The Communicative Approach

• The Silent Way

It was developed by Gattegno and some of its principles are:

- There is no use of learners mother tongue

- Learning takes place by visual resources

- Teacher remains silent most of the time, for the students to speak and practice. However, the teacher controls the process using non-verbal communication

- Based on Structuralism Theory, which designs its syllabus around linguistic structures and vocabulary

• The Comprehension Based Approach

• The Communicative Approach

• The Silent Way

It was developed by Charles Curran, who applied to language learning the techniques he used in his psycho-pedagogical surgery. Some principles are:

- Language is a social communication system

- The teacher is responsible for creating an atmosphere in which they feel confident

- Learners are members of a community in which they learn through interaction

• The Community Language Learning

• The Natural Approach

• Total Physical Response