ELT- Grammar Translation method and The Direct Method

Assignment

Name: - Dave Nimesh B

M.A. Sem: - 3

Paper No :- 12 ( The English language Teaching )

Assignment Topic:  Grammar Translation method and The Direct Method

Academic Year :- 2015-16

Submitted To :- Department of English ( MKBU)

Grammar Translation Method:-

Introduction

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 The Grammar Translation method is centuries old method. this method was adapted by teachers who were engaged in teaching of Classical languages like Latin or Greek. In Western countries learning Latin or Greek was the activity of the scholars. so this method is known as The Classical Method. because it is very useful in learning the languages like Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, Latin, Greek etc.

v this method is very popular among the average teacher because it is easy  to use in the classrooms. However, this is the method which has created the distance between English language learning  and its use.

Definition:-

Chamion defines this method

 "Under the translation method, the meaning of English words, phrases, and sentences is taught by means of word for word translation into the mother tongue".

Mother tongue has dominated the activities  to be carried  out in the classroom.

This method is based on two philosophical principles:

A foreign language can be easily learn through translation.

Grammar is soul of the language.

  According to Thompson and Wyatt three principles on which this method based are

(1)Translation interprets foreign phraseology best.

(2) The foreign phraseology is best assimilated by the learners 

in the process of interpretation.

The structure of a foreign language is best learnt when compared and contrasted with the mother tongue.

Characteristic of this Method:-

•  The mother tongue dominates in this method.
•  Classes are taught in mother tongue with little active use of target language.
• vThe unit of teaching is word and not a sentence means vocabulary is taught in the form of isolated words/forms.
•  English grammar is taught through rules, definitions, translations and comparative study of mother tongue grammar.
•  It believes in teaching the language by rule rather than by use. the teaching  of English is carried out with explanation of grammatical rules.
•  It considers grammar as the soul of the language.
•  there is no scope of building linguistic competence in learners.
•  The main function of language learning communication is ignored.

Merits/Advantages

FOLLOWING are the merits in this method:-

•  The full use of mother tongue increases the vocabulary of the pupils.
•  the unlimited use of the mother tongue makes teaching activity  very easy.
•  it is economical because it saves the time and energy  of both teacher and student.
•  it is very effective because pupils are able to understand words, phrases, and sentences are translated into the mother tongue.
•  By this method, a strong memory bond is established because the child associates the foreign phraseology with that of his mother tongue.
•  There is no place for vagueness of meaning in this method, thus it provides clarity in understanding of words.
•  It creates exactness and definiteness because of translating words, phrase or sentence into the mother tongue.
•  In this method child proceeds from the known to the unknown; this gives him a better understanding/comprehension of what is learnt.
•  the working knowledge of mother tongue helps them to learn the grammar of foreign language.
•  we can test comprehension of our pupils by this method.
•  it develops art of translation.
• it is useful in explaining differences between structures and sentences of English and native language.
•  it can be easily used in overcrowded classes.

Demerits/Limitations:-

• this methods does not emphasis on basic skills like Speaking, Listening etc.
•  it has no provision for teaching certain spoken aspects like articulation, intonation, pause, pitch etc.
•  there are some words , idioms, and phrases in English for which word to word translation in mother tongue is not possible, for example preposition and prepositional phrases as they create variety of meaning when they used.
• literal translation ruins the sense and beauty of sentence. it also fails to  arrest the soul of the word and the mind of the author.
• -English language has some structures which  cannot be translated into mother tongue. example-Article-A, An ,The.
•  it does not  create direct bond between thought and expression. children begin thinking in mother tongue first and then they think in English. thus it prevents them from thinking directly in English.
•  over emphasis on grammar makes the teaching process dry and burdensome.
• it gives rare opportunity to children to participate in discussion of the  unit.
• it favors to teach  English by rules and not by use. Dr. Ballard says " to speak any language whether native or foreign , entirely by rules is quite impossible".
•  it neglects silent reading skill which is most important in reading journals, periodicals, newspaper, and common English books.
• the method is psychologically wrong as it gives stress on the use of eye and totally ignores the use of ear.
•  in spite of these demerits, it can be stated that it is used by teachers of English extensively and thus it is used wisely and discriminately, it can be prove very useful in teaching of English.

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The Direct Method:-

• INTRODUCTION

·        An attempt to teach the language as one could in learning mother tongue is known as the Direct Method. it is also known as the  Natural method because the  characteristics we observe in language teaching is similar to acquisition of L1.(First language). it is very difficult to bring exact environment in which L1 or MT ( Mother tongue) is acquired. so later, the same method became popular as the Direct method.

·        the method existed against the grammar translation method. much use  of mother tongue and undue teaching of grammar made the teaching of English is a mechanical  activity and the learners were acquiring the knowledge of the grammar instead of the language.

·        The learning a second or foreign language is not a natural process. it is on the will of the learner to learn for his own development. so teaching of English  as a L2 or FL by observing the principles of language acquisition is The Direct Method.

Origin of this Method:-

·        The method is originated in France in 1901. The principles of this method  came from Germany and were popularized by the international phonetic association of France.

Meaning:-

·        Explaining the meaning of The Direct Method, H. Champion writes The Direct Method is a method of teaching English directly. to teach English directly is to establish a direct or immediate association between  experience and expression, between English words, phrases or idiom and its meaning. in other words , establishing in connection with English is the same habit of direct.

·        Felix Frank says that the moment a concept  (meaning) and foreign words are intimately brought into contact without  the intervention of the native words we have the direct method.

·        The meaning of this method is given in Webster's  new international dictionary as ".....is a method of teaching a foreign language , especially a modern language through conversation, discussion, and reading in the language itself without the use of pupils own language without translation and without the study of formal grammar. the words are taught by showing objects, pictures or by performing actions.

Principles:-

·        classroom instruction was conducted exclusively in the target language.

·        only everyday vocabulary and sentences were taught.

·        oral communication skills were built up in a carefully graded profession organized around question and answer exchanges between  teachers and students in small, intensive classes.

·        Grammar was taught inductively.

·        New teaching points were introduced orally.

·        Concrete vocabulary was taught through demonstration, objects and pictures. abstract vocabulary was taught by association of ideas.

·        Both speech and listening comprehension were taught .

·        Correct pronunciation and grammar were emphasized.

·        These principles are seen in the following guidelines for teaching oral language, which are still followed in contemporary Berlitz schools.

·        Never translate: demonstrate

·        Never explain: act

·        Never make a speech: ask question

·        Never imitate mistakes: correct

·        Never speak with single words: use sentences

·        Never speak too much: make students speak much

·        Never use the book :Use your lesson plan

·        Never jump around: follow your  plan

·        Never go too fast: keep the pace of the students

·        Never speak too slowly: speak normally

·        Never speak too quickly: speak naturally

·        Never speak too loudly: speak naturally

·        Never be impatient: take it easy(Richards and Rodgers)

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Merits/Advantages:-

·        The understanding of English becomes easier.

·        the pupils mind goes straight from meaning of English word and from English word to its meaning. so they understand directly whatever they hear or read.

·        pupils acquired good habit of speech in lading the use of proper pronunciation, intonation, pitch, and stress.

·        it develops fluency of speech and writing.

·        According to Macnee " The direct method is the quickest way of learning  and expanding vocabulary.

·        the reading of English becomes easy and pleasant  by the techniques and activities on the part of both teacher and taught.

·        the lesson becomes more interesting  and effective by  the use of objects, pictures, charts, models, actions etc.

·        it aims at the practical command of the language which paves the way for critical study.

·        this method is Psychologically sound because it follows the principles of education , via   'proceed from particular to general', from concrete to abstract , practice to the theory.

·        it helps in bringing the words of passive vocabulary into active vocabulary.

·        the method appeals to eye and ear both.

·        English atmosphere  is maintained by way of using English in the teaching process to maximum extent.

·        it is learn through Inductive approach.

·        it observes the scientific path of language acquisition:LSRW.

·        the language cannot be mastered with the help of rules; it is better govern with use.

·        it enables learners to enjoy the language, so learners start using the language without fear.

Demerits/Limitations:-

·        this method is not helpful to average students because it aims at the active command over the language.

·        this method ignores reading and writing  aspects of language. it can be useful only in the hands of an efficient  and resourceful  teacher who has a remarkable command over spoken English. it is very difficult to get the meaning of words like Chastity, honesty, generosity etc. the teacher has to spend a lot time in planning and designing activities so he cannot concentrate on many classes at a time. this method is not feasible in overcrowded classes.

·        According to Huse " Visual presentation is more effective than purely auditory or vocal.  all children are not linguistic minded . such children cannot benefited by this method. it is very difficult and expensive method because our school cannot provide sufficient equipment and facilities.

·        Menon and Patel say,  " The Direct method was tried in India for  number of years but it failed to yield the expected dividends in terms of the children’s progress. it is useful at early stage not at higher stage.

Conclusion:-

·        Thus, both methods are useful in teaching of foreign / second language.

Work Cited

Richards, Jack c. and Theodore s Rodgers. Approaches and Methods in Language teaching. Cambridge university press, 2001.

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