The Grammar-Translation Method
1. Definition
The Grammar-translation Method is a foreign or second language teaching, which uses translation and grammars study as the main teaching and learning activities. At one time it was called Classical Method since it was first used in the teaching of the classical languages of Latin and Greek. 2. Background
The history of the Grammar-translation Method is not fully and carefully documented.
(1) There is evidence that grammar analysis and translation began to be the basic procedures in foreign language teaching from the 16th century when modern languages such as French, Italian and English gained in importance as a result of political changes in Europe. The modern languages provided one of the conditions for grammar analysis and the application of grammatical rules in translation exercises in teaching Latin.
(2) The second impetus for the procedures of grammar analysis and translation in teaching Latin came from the social needs of European countries. The main purpose of learning Latin was it studies the classical culture, which was worshipped in the Renaissance. Grammar analysis and translation proved to be effective means in studying foreign culture through literary works.
(3) Some people believed that the mind of human beings could be trained by logical analysis of the classic language, extensive memorization of complicated rules and paradigms, and translation between languages.
Only in the late 18th century did the regular combination of grammar rules with translation into the target language become the principal practice technique. Therefore, it is accepted by most experts of foreign language teaching that the Grammar-Translation Method originated from the 18th century. In the 19th century, more experts of foreign language teaching adopted the strategy of combining grammar rules with translation and the Grammar-Translation
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Method became the principal method of teaching modern languages in schools. 3. Theory
1). Theory of language
(1). All languages originate from one language and are ruled by a common grammar. (2). The written form of the language is superior to the spoken form.
The Grammar-Translation Method belongs to the school of traditional linguistics which believed that the written form and took words as their starting point. When discussing the rules of language, they emphasized such matters as correctness, the purity of a language and literary excellence.
(3) The students’ first language is the reference system in the learning of the target language. In foreign language teaching, the target language is primarily interpreted as a system of rules to be observed in texts and sentences and to be related to the first language rules and meaning. The students’ first language is the reference system in the leaning of the target language.
2) Faculty Psychology
(1). The mind of human being has various faculties that can be trained separately.
(2). Understanding and memorization of complicated grammatical rules of language help to develop mentality.
(3). Latin grammar is the most logical and well-organized grammar.
(4).The language was a boy of knowledge to be learned, with an emphasis on intellectual rigor. 4. Teaching Procedures
The main procedures for a typical lesson with the Grammar-Translation Method can be
divided into three phases. The activities in each phase are described below: 1). Phase one
A. The teacher reads and explains the new words and expressions in the first language. B. The teacher teaches the new grammar with deductive method. 2). Phase two
A. Students are asked to read a few sentences out aloud and translate them into the first language.
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B. The teacher analyses some difficult sentence and translates them into their native language first literally and then freely.
C. Students read the studied part of the passage silently and ask the teacher questions they cannot answer by themselves. 3). Phase three
A. Students are asked to write the answers to the questions about the reading passage. B. Students are asked to do other written work that is meant to reinforce the new grammar items and vocabulary. 5. Teacher Roles in the Framework
The Grammar-Translation Method makes few demands on teachers although it often creates frustration for students.
1).Controller The teacher control the pace so that activities run smoothly and efficiently.
2).Organizer The teacher is to design and organize tasks that students can perform in the class.
3). Assessor The teacher is to assess the students work and correct their grammar mistakes .
4).Resource-provider The teacher is to provide the grammar rules for the students.
6. The Principle Characteristics
(1). Grammar is the core of language, and language materials are arranged according to the grammar system.
(2). The main teaching activities are analysis, explanation and translation. (3). The major practice is translation from and into the target language. (4) The teaching focus is reading and writing. (5)First language is the main medium of instruction.
(6)The sentence is the basic unit of language teaching and learning. (7)Language accuracy is emphasized.
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English teaching method
