The Nature of Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching

 The Nature of Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching

        Teaching a foreign language can be a challenging but rewarding job that opens up entirely new paths of communication to students. It’s beneficial for teachers to have knowledge of the many different language learning techniques including ESL teaching methods so they can be flexible in their instruction methods, adapting them when needed.

        Keep on reading for all the details you need to know about the most popular foreign language teaching methods. Some of the ones covered are the communicative approach, total physical response, the direct method, task-based language learning, sugguestopedia, grammar-translation, the audio-lingual approach and more.

      This chapter discusses the relationship between approach and method. It also provides a description, analysis and comparison of the presented methods.

Approach, Method and Technique

 * Edward Anthony (1963) – Identified three levels of conceptualization and organization: approach, method and technique.

 Approach – A set of specific theories about the nature of language and language learning. 

Method – An orderly plan for the presentation of language material based on the selected approach.

Technique – An implementational strategy or trick used to accomplish an immediate objective. It actually takes place in the classroom. 

* However we will referring to approach at the same level of “Design” and “Procedure”, all which constitute a method.

Theoretical Views of the Nature of Language Approach:

        Theoretical Views of the Nature of Language Structural view – Views language as a structural system that consists of related elements that work as codes of meaning. This is the most traditional view. (Phonological and grammatical units, such as phonemes, phrases, sentences, etc) It is used in The Audio-lingual Method, Total Physical Response, and The Silent Way. Functional view – Views language as a means for the expression of functional meaning. (Specifically on the organization and meaning of the content, which has to be understandable) It is employed in Communicative Language Teaching and Notional/Functional Approach. Interactional view – Sees language as a tool for interpersonal and social interactions between individuals. (Emphasizes interactive and conversational exchanges, which are constantly employed in social relations) It is used in Task-Based Language Teaching, Whole Language Learning, Neurolinguistic Programming, Cooperative Language Learning and Content-Based Instruction.

Theoretical Views of Language Learning Approach:

        Theoretical Views of Language Learning A learning theory should respond to these two questions: “What are the psycholinguistic and cognitive processes involved in language teaching?” “What are the conditions that need to be met in order for these learning processes to be activated?” – Stephen Krashen’s Monitor Theory, which is based on The Natural Approach, answers both questions by distinguishing between the “acquisition” and “learning” processes, and by describing the the type of input the learners receive, which should be at their level, interest, of sufficient quantity, and in low-anxiety contexts, and these are the conditions. – Tracy D. Terrell (Natural Approach), and James Asher (Total Physical Response) are examples of methods based on this learning theory. – Charles A. Curran’s Counseling Learning and Caleb Gattegno’s Silent Way also focus on this learning theory, but they focus primarily on the conditions more than in the processes. Their concern is directed to the atmosphere of the classroom, and they seek for motivation, confidence and security within the students.

Language and Language Learning theories: 

The theoretical views discussed are complementally linked one to the other. – Audilongualism – Produced by linking structuralism (linguistic theory) to behaviorism (learning theory).