THE GRAMMAR-TRANSLATION METHOD

By: Jos Gustavo Espinoza Morales.

Contents:
What is the Historical Background Information about the Grammar Translation Method? What is the Grammar Translation Method? What are the Characteristics of Grammar Translation Method? What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Grammar Translation Method?

Historical Background Information about the Grammar Translation Method?

What is a Method? Teaching Methods can be described as the way of achieving learning outcomes.

 The Grammar Translation Method was devised and developed for use in Secondary School.

The Grammar School Method and it began in Germany at the end of the eighteenth century, or more accurately in Prussia

 It was established as the favored method of the Prussian Gymnasien after their expansion in the early year of the nineteenth century. originally it was used to teach Greek and Latin. . It was used for teaching the fundamentals of Grammar and translation in order to read and interpret Latin texts.

 In the nineteenth century this method was used in teaching other languages, for instance: German, French or English, because in Latin it was a good method, most of the students who were taught Latin they were very well educated.
In America is known as Prussian method.

What is the Grammar-Translation Method

It is a way of learning a language through a detailed study of its grammar,
Everything is focused just in Grammar, teaching rules, memorization and so on,

 The Grammar Translation is a way of studying

a language first through detailed analysis of its

grammar rules, followed by application of this

knowledge to the task of translating sentences

and text into and out of the target language

What are the Characteristics of Grammar Translation Method?

Reading and writing are the major focuses; little or no systematic attention is paid to speaking or listening. This method is used for the purpose of helping students read and appreciate foreign language literature.

 Much of the vocabulary is in the form of list of isolated words. Classes are taught in the mother tongue, with little active use of the target language Grammar provides the rules for putting words together.

 Reading of difficult classical texts in the beginning of the class. Little attention is paid to the contents of texts, which are treated as exercises in grammatical analysis. The learner does not play an active role in the use of the target language.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Grammar Translation Method?

 Grammar-Translation Method is good for

language learners to recognize some features of two languages, and some of the learners study the target language very well by this method.

 Grammar-translation method is good for language learners to cultivate their abilities to study independently.

Using this method you can save time in planning your class, and it is easier for the teacher if he knows the topic.

 Learner does not have Motivation and Participation.

Unnatural and Inaccurate Pronunciation in students.

Some Principles that the Method has:

Literary language is superior to the spoken language. Translating each language into each other is an important goal for learners.

The authority in the classroom is the teacher

 To be able to communicate with target languages speakers is not the goals. The primary skills to be improved are reading and writing.

Error correction: If a students answer of a question is incorrect, the teacher selects a different student to give the correct answer or she/he replies himself/herself.

Techniques.
Translation of Literary Passage.

Reading Comprehension questions.

Antonyms/synonyms.

Deductive application of rules.

Fill-in-the-blanks.

Memorization, and Use words in sentences

CONCLUSION

References:
Candlin., B. J. (1980). Linguistics Applied. En B. J. Candlin., The essential of a Communicative curriculum in Language Teaching (pgs. 89-112). Hong Kong: Chinese University Press. G.Widdowson, A. H. (2004). A History Of English Language Teaching. New York: Oxford University Press. Gorski, V. (12 de February de 2012). eHOW. MOM. Recuperado el 29 de September de 2013, de eHow. MOM: http://www.ehow.com/info_8059435_advantagesdisadvantages-gtm-tefl.html Larsen, D. (2000). Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching. New York: Oxford University Press. Learn, O. (21 de May de 2011). Lab Space. Recuperado el 28 de September de 2013, de Lab Space: http://labspace.open.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=426993 Nagaraj, G. (2005). English Language Teaching Approches Methods and Techniques. Indian: Logman. Tetzner, R. (2006). The Grammar-Translation Method. EE.UU.: Grin. Ulit., E. V. (1995). Teaching The Elementary School. Ladesco Village.: Rex, Book Store, INC