Grammar Translation

Method

Grammar Translation

Method

What is Grammar Translation Method?What is Grammar Translation Method?

• The grammar-translation method of foreign language teaching is one of the most traditional methods.

• It was originally used to teach 'dead' languages (and literatures) such as Latin and Greek.

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

• A focus on the rules of grammar and their application.

• Vocabulary : isolated word lists.

• Very little teaching is done in the target language.

• Grammar in the native language, firstly.

ObjectiveObjective• Literary language is superior to the spoken

language. • Translating each language into each other.

• The authority in the classroom is the teacher.• Communicate with target language is not

among the goals.• Reading and writing are the skills to be

improved.• Deductive application of grammar rules.

• Error correction: If a student’s answer of a question is incorrect, the teacher gives them

the correct answer.

Syllabus

● Grammar-driven

Roles of Teachers

Authoritarian

Teacher is a guide

Teacher centered

Roles of Students

●Students do what teacher says.Students are passive and

memorizers.

Activitive Types Activitive Types1. Translation of a Literary Passage

2. Reading Comprehension Questions

3.  Antonym/synonyms

4. Fill-in-the-blanks

5. Deductive Application of Rule

6. Memorization

Disadvantages

• This method gives pupils the wrong idea of what language is and of the relationship between languages. Language is seen as a collection or words which are isolated and independent.

• Worst effect of this method is on pupil's motivation. Because (s)he cannot succeed - leads to frustration, boredom and indiscipline.

• It seemed there was no need for students to master the four skills of English (listening, speaking, reading, and writing)

• The grammar-translation method is the easiest for a teacher to employ. It doesn't require a teacher to speak good English or make good lesson preparations.

Jelou shilrren, hoy vamo’ a

ver el “ver-tu-bi”

Ai amLlu arJi is…

1. Classes are taught in the mother tongue, with little active use of the target language.

2. Much vocabulary is taught in the form of lists of isolated words.

3. Long elaborate explanations of the intricacies of grammar are given.

4. Grammar provides the rule for putting words together, and instruction often focuses on the form and inflection of words.

5. Reading of difficult classical texts is begun early.

6. Little attention is paid to the content of texts, which are treated as exercises in grammatical analysis.

A class working with the Grammar Translation Method looks like this: