Grammar-Translation Method, Audio-Lingual Method and Direct Method
Three of the earliest teaching methods were the Grammar-Translation Method, the Direct Method, and the Audio-lingual Method. Discuss these three methods. Also, explain their shortcomings which led to more current approaches in the teaching of grammar to L2 speakers.
1. i) Grammar Translation Method (GTM): Grammar-translation method is the extension of the Classical method which began in Germany (Prussia) in the late 18th century. It was then become popular in the early 19th century. It is one of the earliest teaching methods and was considered as the first institutionalized and the oldest method of language teaching. This is because; GTM was an adopted language teaching method in various schools. In the book, “The Empirical Evidence for the Influence of L1 in Interlanguage (1984: 98)” the writer, Howaat, said that this teaching method was actually to educate students Latin and to the extent of teaching the ancient Greek. In implementing this method, teachers use students’ L1 to teach. Therefore, L1 is very important as a medium resource and is widely used in the classroom. GTM is more institutionalized in form and are teach to larger groups. It also conserved the basic framework of grammar and translation. For example, they used it to replace the traditional texts with sample sentences and translate sentences into and out of the foreign language. Besides that, the major goals in this method are, writing and reading comprehension and grammar points are showed using isolated or disconnected sentences. Grammar rules are taught explicitly and directly while sometimes the point of the specific rules and exceptions are emphasized.
According to Diane Larsen-Freeman, in her book Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching (1986:13), GTM provides expanded descriptions of some common/typical techniques which are:
1) Translation of a Literary Passage - Translating target language to native language
2) Reading Comprehension Questions - Finding information
1. i) Grammar Translation Method (GTM): Grammar-translation method is the extension of the Classical method which began in Germany (Prussia) in the late 18th century. It was then become popular in the early 19th century. It is one of the earliest teaching methods and was considered as the first institutionalized and the oldest method of language teaching. This is because; GTM was an adopted language teaching method in various schools. In the book, “The Empirical Evidence for the Influence of L1 in Interlanguage (1984: 98)” the writer, Howaat, said that this teaching method was actually to educate students Latin and to the extent of teaching the ancient Greek. In implementing this method, teachers use students’ L1 to teach. Therefore, L1 is very important as a medium resource and is widely used in the classroom. GTM is more institutionalized in form and are teach to larger groups. It also conserved the basic framework of grammar and translation. For example, they used it to replace the traditional texts with sample sentences and translate sentences into and out of the foreign language. Besides that, the major goals in this method are, writing and reading comprehension and grammar points are showed using isolated or disconnected sentences. Grammar rules are taught explicitly and directly while sometimes the point of the specific rules and exceptions are emphasized.
According to Diane Larsen-Freeman, in her book Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching (1986:13), GTM provides expanded descriptions of some common/typical techniques which are:
1) Translation of a Literary Passage - Translating target language to native language
2) Reading Comprehension Questions - Finding information
References: Advantages and Disadvantages of Direct Method. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2012, from Scribd.com: http://www.scribd.com/doc/61836370/Advantages-and-Disadvantages-of-Direct-Method Audiolingual Method. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2012, from Wikipedia.org: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audiolingual_method Chapter 5 The Audiolingual Method. (2005, October 5). Retrieved October 27, 2012, from yeshj.com: http://blog.yeshj.com/cxchun/archive/2005/10/05/145953.html Direct Method (Education). (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2012, from Wikipedia.com: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_method_%28education%29 Grammar-translation Method. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2012, from Wikipedia.com: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammar-translation_method#cite_note-FOOTNOTERichardsRodgers20017-6 Kalan, S. (2012, April 19). The Direct Method in Language Teaching. Retrieved October 27, 2012, from Slideshare.net: http://www.slideshare.net/SoNeRKaLaN/the-direct-method-in-language-teaching Markusic, M. (2012, June 1). Classroom Instruction: Pros and Cons of Direct Teaching. Retrieved October 27, 2012, from Brighthubeducation.com: http://www.brighthubeducation.com/teaching-methods-tips/5487-pros-and-cons-of-direct-teaching/ Oswaldoipc. (2007, June 22). The Grammar Translation Method . Retrieved October 27, 2012, from Methodology (ELT): http://oswaldoipc.wordpress.com/2007/06/22/the-grammar-translation-method/ Puwarno. (2006, January 17). The Direct Method. Retrieved October 27, 2012, from The World of Language: http://purwarno-linguistics.blogspot.com/2006/01/direct-method.html Samad, A. A. (2011). Teaching Grammar To Learners of English As A Second Language. Kajang: UPM Holdings Sdn. Bhd.