Topic > Grammar - Translation Method for Teaching English

The main purpose of teaching the target language through this method is to be able to read literature written in the target language. This can be achieved through learning the grammatical rules and vocabulary of the target language. The fundamental principles on which the grammatical-translation method is based are the following: • Grammar is taught deductively and then practiced through translation exercises. • The primary skills to be developed are reading and writing • Almost no attention is paid to speaking and listening • The objective of learning a foreign language is to acquire the ability to understand texts written in a foreign language • Correction of teacher is the only way to get students to produce the right forms of the foreign language• Vocabulary is learned from bilingual word lists• Mastery of the grammar of the foreign language is essential for students to understand the written target languageThe procedure English teaching is a combination of grammar and translation teaching activities. Teaching begins with English rules, vocabulary items, translation. The teacher explains the rules and then the students insert simple words into the grammar rule slots. Grammar rules are stored as units. Students are expected to be aware of the grammatical rules of the target language. Usually the sequence of teaching materials is based on the simplicity of the rules. Its grammar program varies from the easiest to the most difficult grammar rules. Very little is taught in the target language. Students are not expected to use the foreign language to communicate. There is no classroom time for students to produce their own sentences and little time is spent on oral practice. The emphasis is on... in the center of the paper... on a series of sentences where words are missing. Then fill in the blanks with new vocabulary items or with items of a particular grammatical type, such as prepositions or verbs with different tenses.7. Memorization. Students are given lists of target language vocabulary words and their native language equivalents and asked to memorize them. They are also required to memorize grammatical rules and grammatical paradigms such as verb conjugations.8. Use the words in sentences. To demonstrate that students understand the meaning and use of a new vocabulary item, they make sentences in which they use the new words.9. Composition. The teacher provides students with a topic to write about in the target language. The topic is based on some aspects of the reading passage of the lesson. Sometimes, instead of creating a composition, students are asked to prepare a summary of the passage read.