Effective Language Teaching Methods: Grammar-Translation, Direct, Audio-Lingual

Grammar-Translation Method

Grammar-Translation. It was originally used to teach dead languages such as Latin and Greek. It involves little or no spoken communication or listening. The goal is to read and translate literature. This method focuses on learning the rules of grammar. Vocabulary in the target language is learned through direct translation from the native language. Readings in the target language are translated directly and then discussed in the native language. Grammar is taught with extensive explanations in the native language.

Principles and Classroom Authority

Principles: translating each language into the other. The authority in the classroom is the teacher. The primary skills to be improved are reading and writing. Its focus is on accuracy (grammatical correctness) and not fluency.

Typical Activities

• Translation of a literary passage: Students will be asked to read a literary passage and then translate it.
• Reading comprehension questions: Students answer these questions in the target language.
• Antonyms / synonyms: Students are asked to find antonyms and synonyms.
• Fill-in-the-blank exercises: The teacher gives students sentences with missing words for completion.

Direct Method

Direct Method. The Direct Method is named "direct" because meaning should be connected directly with the target language without translation into the native language.

Theoretical Assumption

Theoretical assumption: Language can be learned only through demonstration. Instead of analytical procedures of explaining grammar rules, students must be encouraged to use language naturally and spontaneously so that they induce grammar. This method therefore emphasizes the importance of sounds, simple sentences, and direct association of language with objects and people in the immediate environment.

Principles

• Never translate: Translation into the native language is avoided.
• Demonstrate: The teacher should demonstrate, not explain or translate.
• Basic vocabulary is taught first: Vocabulary is taught through known words, demonstration, and authentic objects.
• Oral transmission: New teaching points are introduced orally.

Audio-Lingual Method

Audio-Lingual. This method is based on behaviorist ideology, which holds that certain traits of living things, in this case humans, can be trained through a system of reinforcement—correct use of a trait receives positive feedback while incorrect use receives negative feedback.

Aims

1. To make students able to use the target language communicatively and automatically without stopping to think.
2. To help students acquire the structural patterns of the language.

Principles

1. Instructions are given in the target language.
2. Language forms occur within a context.
3. The students' native language interferes as little as possible with their attempts to acquire the target language.