THE NATURE OF APPROACHES AND METHODS IN LANGUAGE TEACHING

A QUESTO DO SABER: O CONHECIMENTO E SUA TIPOLOGIA

We have seen that foreign language studies have changed according to the movements in historical circumstances. Grammar-Translation Method was guided by tradition. Read and write. Use of native language. Deductive grammar. Reform movement: displacements in beliefs. Direct Method. Listening and speaking. Use of the target language. Inductive grammar. In the 1940s, applied linguists started trying to conceptualize the nature of methods. What is a method? And an approach? It is necessary to define the concepts to analyze the methods.
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APPROACH AND METHOD

The difference between the philosophy of language teaching and the set of derived procedures for teaching a language is crucial to deal with the subject. Edward Anthonys model (1963):
Approach: assumptions dealing with the nature of language teaching and learning. Axiomatic. Method: an overall plan for the orderly presentation of language material. Procedural. Within one approach, there can be many methods. Technique: what actually takes place in the classroom. Techniques must be consistent with a method, which must be in harmony with an approach.
E.g.: The proposals of the Reform movement were at the level of an approach; The Direct Method is a method derived from this approach.

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APPROACH AND METHOD

HIERARCHICAL/VERTICAL MODEL
Approach | Method | Techniques
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CRITICISM OF ANTHONYS TAXONOMY

It leaves out teachers and learners role, as well as the role of instructional materials. It lacks discussing how an approach becomes a method and how techniques are related to a method.

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RICHARD AND RODGERS MODEL

Method = approach + design + procedure

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RICHARD AND RODGERS MODEL

A) APPROACH: theories about the nature of the language and language learning.
Theory of language The Structural view: a system of structurally related elements: E.g. : Audiolingual method The Functional view: a vehicle of expression for functional meaning: E.g.: The Communicative movement The Interactional view: a vehicle for the realization of interpersonal relations and the performance of social transactions between individuals. A tool for the creation and maintenance of social relations: E.g.: Task-based learning Theory of language learning Describe the psycholinguistic and cognitive processes involved in language learning. Process-orientated theories: build on learning processes E.g. Gardners Multiple Intelligence: right trigger Condition-oriented theories: build on the context of learning E.g. Currans Counseling Learning: environment E.g2. Krashens theory is both Process: acquisition/learning Condition: i+1 E.g3. Ashers TPR is both Process: learning is based on motor activity Condition: combination of language production and physical action provide the optimal condition for learning. Combinations: Structuralism (language theory) and Behaviorism (learning theory) produced the Audiolingualism.

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RICHARD AND RODGERS MODEL

B) DESIGN: Design for an instructional system a) Objectives: teaching focus (grammar, oral skills, etc) b) Content choice and organization: syllabus c) Types of learning and teaching activities: (dialogues, problem-solving, information-gap, drilling, etc.) d)Learner roles: learners contribution to the learning process e) The role of instructional materials: according to the previous items
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RICHARD AND RODGERS MODEL

C) PROCEDURE: moment-to-moment techniques and practices that operate in teaching.

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RICHARD AND RODGERS MODEL

METHOD
APPROACH DESIGN PROCEDURE

- A theory of the nature of the language - Objectives - Classroom techniques, - A theory of the nature of language learning - A syllabus model practices, and behaviors - Learning and teaching activities observed when the method - Learner roles is used - Teacher roles - The role of instructional materials

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