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1490
Latin was the dominant language of education
500 years ago, Latin was the dominant language of education, commerce, religion, and government in the Western world.
In the sixteenth century, however, French, Italian, and English gained importance as a result of political changes in Europe, and Latin became displaced as a language of spoken and written communication. -
Period: 1490 to
Latin
The study of Latin and analysis of grammar and rhetoric became the model for foreign language study from seventeenth tot he nineteenth centuries. Children entering "Grammar school" in XVI, XVII and XVIII centuries were initially given a rigorous introduction to Latin grammar, which was taught through rote learning of grammar rules, study of declensions and conjugations, translation, and practice in writing sample sentences, sometimes with the use of parallel bilingual testa and dialogue. -
The Decline of Latin
The decline of Latin also brought with it a new justification for teaching Latin. Latin was said to develop intellectual abilities, and the study of Latin grammar became an e.d in itself. -
Period: to
Modern Languages
Modern languages began to enter the curriculum of European schools in the eighteenth century, they were taught using the same basic procedures that were used for teaching Latin.
Textbooks consisted of statements of abstract grammar rules, list of vocabulary and sentences for translation. speaking was NOT the goal and oral practice was limited. -
Period: to
Nineteenth Century Innovations
-Oral proficiency became an issue as more opportunities for communicating arose causing new approaches to be presented instead of The Grammar-Translation.
-The focus of educators during this time recognized the need for speaking proficiency.
-Teachers and linguists began the reform movement.
- F. Gouin emphasis on the need to present a new teaching items in the context that makes their meaning clear are practices that later became part of such approaches. -
Period: to
Foreign Languages in School
The approach based on the study of latin had become the standard way of studying foreign languages in schools.
The textbooks were mainly determined to codify the foreign language into frozen rules of morphology and syntax to be explained and eventually memorized. oral work was reduced to an absolute minimum. -
Period: to
The Grammar-Translation Method
- Learn the target language to be applied to translate sentences and texts.
- Reading and writing were the main focus -Vocabulary being chosen from texts being read and memorization. -the sentence is the basic unit of teaching and language practice. -Accuracy is empasized. -Grammar is taught through prsentations and rules. -Native language used as a medium.
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Period: to
The Reform Movement
-Henry Sweet, Wilhelm Vietor and Paul Passy provided leadership in giving more credibility and acceptance to reformists.
-Phonetics was established.
IPA was founded.
Reformers believed:
- Spoken Language is primary
- Hear the Language then see it written.
- Grammar should be taught inductively.
- Translation should be avoided. -
Period: to
The Direct Method
-Natural Method believers felt the L2 could be taught without translation of the individuals of L1 if the L2 was taught using demonstrations.
-Direct Method depended on the teacher's skill, not the textbook.
-Due to the drawbacks, other developments arose such as Audiolingualism and the Oral Approach or situational language teaching.
-it was successful in private schools.
FIRST language teaching method to have caught the attention of teachers and language teaching specialists. -
Period: to
The Methods Era
-Often having very different characteristics in terms of goals, assumptions about how a second language is learned
-Preferred teaching techniques have in common the belief that if language learning is to be improved, it will come about the through changes and improvements in TM.
-1950-1960: The audiolingual method and the situational method which were both superseded by communicative Approach.
Teachers moved away from belief approaches and methods are the solution to problems in LT