Language teaching

methodologies

UNIVERSITY OF TOLIMACREAD POPAYANNURSERY PROGRAM10th SEMESTER

METHODOLOGY

• is the systematic, theoretical analysis of the methods appliedto a field of study. It comprises the theoretical analysis of thebody of methods and principles associated with a branch ofknowledge. Typically, it encompasses concepts such asparadigm, theoretical model, phases and quantitative orqualitative techniques.[1]

• A methodology does not set out to provide solutions - it is,therefore, not the same thing as a method. Instead, it offersthe theoretical underpinning for understanding whichmethod, set of methods or so called “best practices” can beapplied to specific case, for example, to calculate a specificresult.

THE DIRECT METHOD

In this method the teaching is doneentirely in the target language. The learneris not allowed to use his or her mothertongue. Grammar rules are avoided andthere is emphasis on good pronunciation.[More].

GRAMMAR-TRANSLATION

•Learning is largely by translation to and fromthe target language. Grammar rules are to bememorized and long lists of vocabularylearned by heart. There is little or no emphasisplaced on developing oral ability. [More]

Audio-lingual

•The theory behind this method is that learninga language means acquiring habits. There ismuch practice of dialogues of every situations.New language is first heard and extensivelydrilled before being seen in its written form.[More]

THE STRUCTURAL APPROACH

•This method sees language as a complex ofgrammatical rules which are to be learned oneat a time in a set order. So for example theverb "to be" is introduced and practicedbefore the present continuous tense whichuses "to be" as an auxiliary.

SUGGESTOPEDIA

•The theory underlying this method is that alanguage can be acquired only when thelearner is receptive and has no mental blocks.By various methods it is suggested to thestudent that the language is easy - and in thisway the mental blocks to learning areremoved. [More]

TOTAL PHYSICAL RESPONSE (TPR)

TPR works by having the learner respond tosimple commands such as "Stand up", "Closeyour book", "Go to the window and open it."The method stresses the importance of auralcomprehension. [More]

COMMUNICATIVE LANGUAGE TEACHING (CLT)

The focus of this method is to enable thelearner to communicate effectively andappropriately in the various situations shewould be likely to find herself in. The content ofCLT courses are functions such as inviting,suggesting, complaining or notions such as theexpression of time, quantity, location. [More]

THE SILENT WAY

This is so called because the aim of the teacheris to say as little as possible in order that thelearner can be in control of what he wants tosay. No use is made of the mother tongue.[More]

COMMUNITY LANGUAGE LEARNING

• In this method attempts are made to build strongpersonal links between the teacher and studentso that there are no blocks to learning. There ismuch talk in the mother tongue which istranslated by the teacher for repetition by thestudent. [More

IMMERSION

This corresponds to a great extent to the situation wehave at our school. ESL students are immersed in theEnglish language for the whole of the school day andexpected to learn math, science, humanities etc. throughthe medium of the target language, English.

Immigrant students who attend local schools findthemselves in an immersion situation; for example refugeechildren from Bosnia attending German schools, or PuertoRicans in American schools. Click here for many links toinformation about bilingual/immersion programs.

THE NATURAL APPROACH

•This approach, propounded by Professor S.Krashen, stresses the similarities betweenlearning the first and second languages. Thereis no correction of mistakes. Learning takesplace by the students being exposed tolanguage that is comprehensible or madecomprehensible to them. [More]

THE LEXICAL SYLLABUS

•This approach is based on a computer analysisof language which identifies the most common(and hence most useful) words in the languageand their various uses. The syllabus teachesthese words in broadly the order of theirfrequency, and great emphasis is placed on theuse of authentic materials.

TASK-BASED LANGUAGE LEARNING

The focus of the teaching is on the completion of a task which initself is interesting to the learners. Learners use the language theyalready have to complete the task and there is little correction oferrors.(This is the predominant method in middle school ESL teaching atFrankfurt International School. The tasks are subsumed in a majortopic that is studied for a number of weeks. In the topic ofecology, for example, students are engaged in a number of tasksculminating in a poster presentation to the rest of the class. Thetasks include reading, searching the internet, listening to tapedmaterial, selecting important vocabulary to teach other studentsetc.)

SELF PRODUCTIONAccording to the language teaching methodologies give your point of view about the following questions. Work by groups of two people.

Answer this question in English.

• 1. What kind of strategies can you use to teach a foreign language?

Answer this question in Spanish.

• 2. For you, Which of the teaching methods could be the best to teach English to children in our environment ?

THANK YOU.