GRAMMAR TRANSLATION
THE GRAMMAR-TRANSLATION METHOD
• "a method of foreign or second language teaching
which makes use of translation and grammar
study as the main teaching and learning
activities."
HISTORY
o Dates back to Erasmus 1466-1536
oOriginally used to teach Latin and Greek in
the late 19th and early 20th centuries
oEarlier in 20th century, this method was
used for the purpose of helping students
read and appreciate foreign language
literature.
BACKGROUND
Traditional method of second language teaching in schools
Most common language teaching method
Stressed the literacy development
Teacher centered
INTRODUCTION
Original purposes
Helping students read and appreciate foreign language
literature
Students can become more familiar with the grammar of
their native language also write and speak their native
language better
Helpful for mental exercise
KEY FEATURES
Classes are taught in the mother tongue, with little active use of the
target language.
 Much vocabulary is taught in the form of lists of isolated words.
Long elaborate explanations of the intricacies of grammar are given.
Grammar provides the rules for putting words together, and
instruction often focuses on the form and inflection of words.
 Reading of difficult classical texts is begun early.
 Little attention is paid to the content of texts, which are
treated as exercises in grammatical analysis.
 Often the only drills are exercises in translating disconnected
sentences from the target language into the mother tongue.
PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES
Translation of a literary passage
• Students will be asked to read a literary passage and then translate the
target language into their native language
• Translation may be written or spoken
• Translation made by the students can show that they understand their
meaning
•
ADVANTAGES
Easiest for teachers to use
Does not require teachers to speak good English or make
good lesson preparations.
Only uses the textbook
Least stressful for students-teaching occurs in the first language
Students learn the new language without contact with native
speakers.
DISADVANTAGES
• Students lack comprehension-only translating wordfor-word
• Does not allow students to create meaning in English
• Students do not learn to read.
• Extensive memorization
• Very little
student/teacher and student/student
interaction
PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES
• The ability of communicating in the target language is not
a goal
• The students ask questions in their native language and
are also answered by the teacher also in their native
language
• The teacher asks students in their native language
PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES
DEDUCTIVE APPLICATION OF RULES
• It is important for students to learn about the forms(
grammar rules ) of the target language
• Grammar rules are presented with examples
• Students are asked to apply the rules to examples they are
given
PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES
READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
•
Students answer these questions in the target language
• Answers to the questions may be in the reading text, or
based on the understanding of the students or students’
own experiences related to the text
PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES
TEACHER AS THE AUTHORITY
• Teacher decides whether the students answers are correct
• It is important for students to get the correct answers
• If students answer incorrectly, the teacher will provide the
correct answer
PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES
MEMORIZATION
• Students are asked to memorize new words, grammatical
rules, and verb conjugation
PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES
FILL-IN-THE-BLANKS
• Teacher give students sentences with word missing
• Students should fill in the blanks with the new vocabulary
or with a particular grammar type
PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES
USE WORDS IN SENTENCES
• Students are asked to make up sentences with the new
words they learn in the text
• This technique can show whether students really
understand the new words
PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES
COMPOSITION
• Students are asked to write a composition in the target
language
• The topic is based on some aspect of the reading passage
CONCLUSION
• Teaching involves any instructional technique that draws
learners attention to some specific grammatical form in
such a way that it helps them either to understand it
metalinguistically and/or process it in comprehension
and/or production so that they can internalize it.
THANK YOU!!!