Analysis of Language

Teaching Approaches and

Methods – Effectiveness
and Weakness
Published by
LIU Qing-xue, SHI Jin-fang
Foreign Language School, East China Jaotong University
In US-China Education Review

Presented by
Sajid Ali (02) & Akbar Jan (15)
MS Linguistics Candidates, ELDC, MUET, Jamshoro
Introduction
1. Grammar Translation Method

2. Direct
Teaching Method
 3. Audio
Lingual Method

4. Communicative
Approach
Issues

Effectiveness

&

Weakness
Question?

• Out of these 4
language teaching
approaches, which
one is more
effective? And
which one is
weaker?
Actually there is no single
“answer” to this question!
Grammar Translation
Method (GTM)
“a traditional technique of foreign-
language teaching based on explicit
instruction in the grammatical
analysis of the target language and
translation of sentences from the
native language into the target language
and vice versa.”
Dictionary.com
Criticism over Grammar
Translation Method (GTM)
1. It creates frustration among student,
because they are supposed to memorize
such an endless list of unusual grammar
rules and vocabulary.
2. It never let’s learner be free from the
influence of the first language.
3. It pays little or no attention to
students’ communicative
competence.
Direct Method
“The direct method of teaching, which is
sometimes called the natural method,
and is often (but not exclusively) used in
teaching foreign languages, refrains
from using the learners' native
language and uses only the target
language.”

Wikipedia.com
Criticism over The Direct
Method
1. Two questions:
1. How to save from misunderstanding
without translation? Specially about
abstract ideas.
2. How to apply this method to adult
learners?
2. Furthermore it requires either
native speaker or native like
fluency which is very difficult
requirement to meet.
The audio-lingual method
The audio-lingual method,
Army Method, or New
Key, is a style of teaching
used in teaching foreign
languages. It is based on
behaviorist theory.
Stresses certain practices
techniques, such as pattern
drills and mimicry.

Wikipedia.com
Criticism over Audi-Lingual
Method
1. Chomsky considered it unsound in
terms of language theory as well as
learning theory.
2. Practical results fell short of
expectations, students are unable
transfer skills acquire through audio-
lingualism.
Communicative Teaching
Method
Communicative approach, is an
approach to language teaching that
emphasizes interaction as both the
means and the ultimate goal of
study.

Wikipedia.com
Criticism over Communicative
Teaching Method
1. Questions:
1. Can this method be applied to all
levels of teaching?
2. How can it be evaluated?
3. How suitable it is for non-native
teachers?
4. How it can be adopted in situations
where students must continue to take
grammar-base test?
Conclusion
1. Questions to be kept in
mind before going for any
approach:
1. Who the learners are.
2. What their current level of
language proficiency is.
3. What sort of
communicative needs
they have.
4. The circumstance in which
they will be using English
in the future.
References
1. LIU Qing-xue, SHI Jin-fang, Foreign Language School, East
China Jaotong University, In US-China Education Review
2. grammar-translation method. (n.d.). Dictionary.com
Unabridged. Retrieved May 08, 2016 from Dictionary.com
websitehttp://www.dictionary.com/browse/grammar-
translation-method
3. Direct method (education). (2016, April 15). In Wikipedia,
The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 09:22, May 8, 2016,
from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Direct_me
thod_(education)&oldid=715452975
4. www.wikipedia.com