Nature of Approaches

Methods in Language
Teaching
ELE 124
Principles and Theories in Language Acquisition
and Learning

Ricky Bustos
How would you separate approaches,
methods, technique and strategy?
•American applied linguist Edward
Anthony attempted to clarify this
difference.
• Three levels of conceptualization and
organization: approach, method and technique
Approach
•A set of correlative assumptions dealing with the
nature of language teaching and learning
•Axiomatic
•Describes the nature of the subject matter to be
taught

Method
•Overall plan for the orderly presentation of
language material, no part of which contradicts,
and all of which is based upon, the selected
approach.
• Procedural
•In one approach, there can be many methods.

Technique
•Implementational – that which actually takes
 place in a classroom.
• Trick, stratagem or contrivance used to
accomplish an immediate objective

Based on
Anthony’s model: ​•An
approach ​is the level at
 which ​assumptions ​and
beliefs ​about l​ anguage ​and
language l​ earning ​are
specified.
A​method ​is the level at which
 theory is put into practice ​and at
which choices are made about the
particular ​skills t​ o be taught, the
content ​to be taught and the ​order ​in
which the content will be presented.
Techniques ​must be
 consistent ​with a ​method
and therefore in ​harmony
with an ​approach a ​ s well.
What are examples of
approaches and
methods?
Theoretical Views
about Language
ELE 124
Principles and Theories in Language Acquisition and
 Learning ​Ricky Bustos

Three Different
Theoretical Views about
Language
1. Structural View
2.Functional View
3.Interactional View

Structural View
•The most traditional of the three •It views
language as a system of structurally
related elements for the coding of
meaning.

Structural
View
• The target of language learning is seen to be the
mastery ​of elements of this system such as:
- phonological units
- grammatical units
- grammatical operations
- lexical items

Structural View
Examples
•Audiolingual Method
•Total Physical Response
•Silent Way
Functional
View
•It views language as a vehicle for the
expression ​of ​functional meaning​.
 • The ​communicative ​movement in
language teaching subscribes to this view of
language.

Functional View
emphasizes the ​semantic
 and ​communicative
dimension rather than merely
the
grammatical characteristics
of language.
Functional View
Examples
•​Notional-Functional Syllabus ​- I​ t
includes not only elements of grammar and
lexis but also specify the topics, notions, and
 concepts the learners need to communicate
about.

Functional View
Examples
•​English for Specific Purposes
(ESP)
- It begins not from the structural theory of
language but from a functional account of
learner needs.

Interactional
View
•It sees language as a ​vehicle ​for the
realization of ​interpersonal
relations ​and for the performance of
social transactions ​between
individuals.

•Interactional
theories ​focus on the
patterns ​of ​moves, acts,
negotiation​, and
 interaction ​found in
conversational
exchanges​.
Interactional View
Examples
•Task-based Language Teaching
•Cooperative Language
Learning •Content-Based
Instruction
What are examples of English
lessons that can be delivered through
structural, functional and interactional
views?

Reference
•Richards, J.C. & Rodgers, T.S.
(2001). ​Approaches and methods in
language teaching. ​Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press.