Unit 2.

1: Principles of Communicative Language

Teaching Session 1: Approaches and Methods in ELT. The Grammar-Translation, Direct

and Audio-Lingual Methods.

Handout 3: Grammar-translation and direct methods

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Complete the table by entering numbers of characteristics from Handout 1 under each method.

Aspect Grammar- Direct

Translation Method Method
Theory of language 1. Language is a 2. Teaching
system of rules. does not
follow a
single theory
of language.
Theory of learning 4. Learning theory is 3. Learning is
didactic: the natural, like a
teacher’s activity is child learning
to transfer mother
knowledge to tongue.
students.
Objectives 5. Students get 6. Students
academic knowledge get a
about the language, practical
study literature and command of
culture the language
in a short
period of
time.
Skills focus 8. The focus is on 7. Listening
reading, writing and and speaking
translating skills. are the key
skills; the aim
is to arrive at
working
knowledge of
the language.
Typical modes of 13. Whole class and 14. Students
interaction individual modes of sometimes
interaction dominate. talk to each
other when
they act out
dialogues
learnt by
heart.
Typical activity types 9. Students often 10. Teacher
practice translation often offers
of unconnected mechanical
sentences. activities
without
providing
meaningful
context
Attitude to the use of 18. Teacher uses 12. Teacher
mother tongue mother tongue allows little, if
 frequently for any, use of
instructions, the native
explanations, language and
corrections prohibits long
and translations. translations.
Role of the teacher 15. Teachers 11. Teacher
dominate in the demonstrates
classroom; they are the pattern
the main source of and students
information and repeat them
the ultimate authority
Attitude to errors G-T=16. Students make mistakes through carelessness and lack of knowledge, so the
teacher must immediately correct them all.

D= 17. Teacher corrects, though students sometimes have a chance to self-correct