Teaching Methods Ch.2 & Ch.3
Teaching Methods Ch.2 & Ch.3
Teaching Methods Ch.2 & Ch.3
Introduction
The Grammar-Translation Method is not new. At one time it was called
the
Classical Method since it was first used in the teaching of the classical
languages, Latin and Greek, this method was used for1: the purpose of
helping students to read and appreciate foreign language literature.
It was also hoped that 2:through the study of the grammar of the
target language students would become more familiar with the
grammar of their native language and that this familiarity would
help them speak and write their native language better. 3:Finally, it
was thought that foreign language learning would help students grow
intellectually; it was recognized that students would probably never
use the target language.
6:Students are given a grammar rule for the use of a direct object with
two word verbs. It is important for students to learn about the grammar or
form of the target language.
2 What is the role of the teacher? What is the role of the students?
The roles are very traditional. The teacher is the authority in the
classroom. The students do as she says so they can learn what she knows
3 What are some characteristics of the teaching/learning process?
Students are taught to translate from one language into another.
Often what they translate are readings in the target language about some
aspect of the culture of the target language community. Students study
grammar deductively; that is, they are given the grammar rules and
examples, are told to memorize them, and then are asked to apply the
rules to other examples. They also learn grammatical paradigms such as
verb conjugations. They memorize native language equivalents for target
language vocabulary words.
Students translate a reading passage from the target language into their
native language. The reading passage then provides the focus for
several classes:Vocabulary and grammatical structures in the
passage are studied in subsequent lessons., a teacher may write a
passage carefully designed to include particular grammar rules and
vocabulary.The translation may be written or spoken
• Antonyms/Synonyms
Students are given one set of words and are asked to find antonyms in the
reading passage. A similar exercise could be done by asking students to
find synonyms for a particular set of words. Or students might be asked to
define a set of words based on their understanding of them as they occur
in the reading passage. Other exercises that ask students to work with the
vocabulary of the passage are also possible.
• Fill-in-the-blanks Exercise
Students are given a series of sentences with words missing. They fill in
the blanks with new vocabulary items or with items of a particular
grammar type, such as prepositions or verbs with different tenses.
• Memorization
Students are given lists of target language vocabulary words and their
native language equivalents and are asked to memorize them. Students
are also required to memorize grammatical rules and grammatical
paradigms such as verb conjugations.
• Composition
The teacher gives the students a topic to write about in the target
language. The topic is based upon some aspect of the reading passage of
the lesson. Sometimes, instead of creating a composition, students are
asked to prepare a précis of the reading passage
Chapter Three
Direct Method
Introduction
As with the Grammar-Translation Method, the Direct Method is not
new. Most recently, it was revived as a method when the goal of
instruction became learning how to use another language to
communicate. Since the Grammar-Translation Method was not very
effective in preparing students to use the target language
communicatively, the Direct Method became popular. The Direct
Method has one very basic rule: No translation is allowed. In fact, the
Direct Method receives its name from the fact that meaning is to be
conveyed directly in the target language through the use of
demonstration and visual aids, with no recourse to the students’
native language.
Principles
1: Reading in the target language should be taught from the beginning of
language instruction; however, the reading skill will be developed
through practice with speaking. Language is primarily speech.
2. What is the role of the teacher? What is the role of the students?
Although the teacher directs the class activities, the student role is less
passive than in the Grammar-Translation Method. The teacher and the
students are more like partners in the teaching–learning process.
Conversation Practice
The teacher asks students a number of questions in the target language,
which they have to understand to be able to answer correctly. In the class
we observed, the teacher asked individual students questions about
themselves. The questions contained a particular grammar structure.
Later, the students were able to ask each other their own questions using
the same grammatical structure.
Dictation
The teacher reads the passage three times. The first time the teacher reads
it at a normal speed, while the students just listen. The second time he
reads the passage phrase by phrase, pausing long enough to allow
students to write down what they have heard. The last time the teacher
again reads at a normal speed, and students check their work