ch 2 the grammar translation method
TRANSCRIPT
Grammar Translation Method: Still Alive in Arab TEFL Classrooms (Raouf, 2010)
Why is the Grammar Translation Method Still Alive in the Arab World? Teachers’ Beliefs and Its implications for EFL Teacher Education (Assalahi, 2013)
Does Grammar Translation Come from the Entrance Examination? Preliminary Findings from Classroom-Based Research (Watanabe, 1996)
What do these titles tell us about GTM?
The Grammar Translation Method
History● Traditional way to teach Latin or
Greek in Europe (Classical Method)● In the 19th century, it began to be
used to teach French, German, and English
● It is still used in some countries today.
Objectives ● To be able to read literature written in
the target language● To be able to translate from one
language to another● To develop reading and writing skill
Principles● Learning grammar rules● Translating back and forth between
the target language and the student’s native language
● Memorizing lists of words● Utilizing exercises and tests in
constrained ways● Explicit error correction
Techniques● Translation of a literary passage● Reading comprehension questions● Antonyms/Synonyms
Techniques● Cognates● Deductive application of rules● Fill-in-the-blank exercise
Techniques● Memorization● Use words in sentence● Composition
Crticisms● Lead to low motivation or frustration
for learners (Richards & Rogers, 1986)● A method with no theory (Ibid)● Overemphasis on grammar (Stern,
1993)● Wrong idea of what language is: as a
group of grammar frames filled with vocabulary items (Howatt & Winddowson, 2004)
● Limited application to multilingual class (Holliday, 1994)
Criticisms● Students lacked an active role in the
classroom.● Very little attention is paid to
communication.● Very little attention is paid to content. ● Translation is sometimes misleading.
Questions for Discussion1.What is your learning/teaching
experience about GTM?2.What is the value of GTM in today’s
language classrooms? 3.Will you adopt GTM techniques in your
teaching, why or why not?4.Explain the differences between
“learning about L2” and “learning to use L2”
5. Is GTM helpful for beginners? Why or why not?
References● Assalahi, H. M. (2013). Why is the grammar-translation method
still alive in the Arab world? Teachers’ beliefs and its implications for EFL teacher education. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 3(4), 589-599.
● Brown, H. D., (2006). Principles of Language Learning and Teaching, 5th ed., Pearson ESL.Richards.
● Holliday, A. (1994). Appropriate methodology and social context. New York: Cambridge University Press.
● Howatt, A. P. R., & Widdowson, H. G. (2004). A History of English Language Teaching (2nd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
● Raouf, A. A. (2010). Grammar-translation method: Still alive in Arab TEFL classrooms. TESOL Arabia Perspectives, 17(1), 13-18.
References● Richards, C., & Rodgers, T. S. (1986). Approaches and Methods
in Language Teaching: A Description and Analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
● Stern, H. (1993). Fundamental Concepts of Language Teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
● Watanabe, Y. (1996). Does grammar translation come from the entrance examination? Preliminary findings from classroom-based research. Language Testing, 13 (3), 318-333.