Approaches and methods in ELT

By Pavli
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    Grammar Translation Method (Classical Method)

    • focus on: translation of written literary texts, grammar and learning of vocabulary
    • characteristics: Translate from English into your native language
    • traditional teaching technique
    • was used to teach Latin and Greek during the 16th Century
    • no emphasis on speaking and listening comprehension
    • linguistic perspective on language
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    Direct Method (Oral Method)

    • discovering the importance of speaking
    • based on direct involvement of S when speaking and listening to the foreign language in common everyday situations
    • lots of oral interaction
    • direct connection between the language and the meaning
      • only target language
      • focus on: good pronunciation, with sponataneous use of everyday language, no translation and little grammar analysis
      • visual aids used to teach vocab.
      • attention to accuracy of pronuntiation and grammar
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    Audiolingual Method (The Army Method)

    • the first modern methodology
    • focus on: sentence and sound patterns
    • only target lang. used
    • patterns elicited, repeated and tested until Ss respond automatically
    • focus on sentence and sound patterns, on pronunciation
    • listening and speaking drills (for learning structural patterns) only in English, with focus on intonation + memorization
    • minimal grammatical explanations
    • vocab. taught in context
    • audiovisual aids used
    • immediate positive reinforcement of correct responses
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    The Silent Way (SW)

    • focus on: student interaction rather than teacher
    • characteristics: Teacher is silent to allow student awareness of how English works
    • # humanism
    • the teacher works with the learners and learners work with the language
    • aims: - to grasp the spirit of the language - the ability to self-express

  • Total Physical Response (TPR)

    Developed by James Asher - psychologist (natural approach)
    • imperative drills that Ss perform
    • #natural method → first and second LL - parallel processes Language Learned through physical actions Native language: not forbidden -used only for instructions, the activity itself i foreign language
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    Suggestopedia

    by Georgi Lozanov
    • the power of suggestion for acquiring language knowledge
    • if students feel relaxed and comfortable, they’ll be more receptive to learning new information
    • Ss relax in comfortable armchairs / sit on the floor while the T reads to them in the target language, lights are dimmed and soft music plays in the background (baroque music) to create a peaceful mood of the lesson
    • Learning through life-like contexts
    • Mental trips - imaginative techniques
    • Dramatization
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    Communicative Language Teaching (CLT)

    • a result of questioning of assumptions and practices associated with SLT = Situational Language Teaching (up until 1960s the major British approach to teaching ESL), in SLT - L. taught by practising structures in meaningful situation-based activities → COMMUNICATIVE MOVEMENT in language teaching
    • "strong CLT" - language is acquired through communication
    • "weak CLT" - to provide Ls with situations to use their English for communicative purposes Social constructivism
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    Community language learning (CLL)

    Developed by Charles A. Curran
    a part of more general instructional approach = Collaborative/Cooperative Learning Keywords:
    - focuses on building an interactive learning environment in the classroom
    - In group, but also individually
    - Quiet reflection time
    - Key principles - six elements = SAAARD
    - Whole person learning
    - Learning is a collaborative effort, topics chosen by Ss
    - Prioritizes L and his specific requirements → more engaging and personalized learning atmosphere
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    The Natural Approach (Communicative Approach)

    One of Traditinal approaches
    By: Tracy Terell + S. Crashen
    aims:
    - Teaching commun. abilities by a game
    - Communicative ability - to communicate the meaning Theory of:
    - Lang.: Second language acquisition
    - Acquisition hypothesis (osvojování): implicit, lasts longer
    - Learning hypothesis (učení): explicit knowledge
    - Stages of acq.:
    - Pre-production
    - Production stage
    - Speech emergency
    - Similar to Social interactionalism (Vygotsky) - ZPD
    - Vocab. (Lexis) > grammar (implicit)
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    Task-Based Language Teaching (TBL)

    • Task - core unit of the lesson, should be functional, two types:
      • Real world - based on real needs of students
      • Pedagogical - based on planned activities by teacher
    • Each task has subtasks:
      • Create a shopping list
      • Discuss what ingredients I need
      • Make a recept
    • S centered
    • Focus on meaning
    • Scaffolding Theory of:
    • Learning: Scaffolding (Vygostsky)
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    Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL)

    • integrates subjects and English - lang. is vehicle and aim as well
    • Soft: for YL at primary school, teaching vocab. in a foreign language, but mostly in the mother tongue, dual aims
    • Hard: taught only in a foreign language
    • important to connect prior knowledge
    • uses scaffolding: previously taught knowledge is later applied in real-like situations
    • critical thinking: what Ss learnt and how they felt during it
    • lang. is a vehicle through which Ss learn the content, focus on comprehension