The Grammar-Translation Method Objectives of the teachers A fundamental purpose of learning a foreign language  to be able to read literature in the target language (L2)  To master language forms (or to learn about the grammar rules & vocabulary of L2) Teacher’s and learners’ role TEACHER’S ROLE The strict authority in the classroom (very traditional role) LEARNERS’ROLE The passive receivers of the new information Role of Ss’ native language (L1)  L1 has an important role in teaching grammar & vocabulary  All of the instructions in class are given in L1 4 How vocabulary is taught  The most common technique: memorization of long lists of vocabulary with their equivalents in Ss’ L1  Other techniques: using synonym & antonym and cognates (having the same origin as another word or language) How grammar is taught  Ss study grammar deductively; i.e they are given the grammar rules & are told to memorize them, and then are asked to apply the rules to other examples  Grammar rules are explicitly taught & translation is the common way to clarify the meaning of grammar patterns in L2 6 Language skills/areas  Reading & Writing primary skills  Speaking & Listening: less attention  Pronunciation: little attention  Vocabulary & Grammar: emphasized Materials & Syllabus  Materials: Texts from the target language literature, teacher’s own text or authentic literary text  Syllabus: structural syllabus (i.e list of structures taught during the course- starting from the easiest ones) Teaching techniques  Translation of a literary passage  Reading comprehension questions  Antonym/synonym/cognates  Deductive application of rules  Fill-in-the-blanks  Memorization  Use words in sentences & composition Error correction  Errors are not tolerated & strictly corrected by the teacher  If Ss not know an answer, the teacher supplies them with the correct answer  Accuracy= grammatical correctness emphasized 10 Interactions  Teacher Students: very often  Students Students: rarely DISCUSSION Work in group of to discuss the answers to the following questions: What are some advantages & disadvantages of the Grammar Translation Method? Use specific examples to support your answers In spite of its drawbacks, some teachers in high schools in Viet Nam still use this method Why? Suppose you are teaching a group of adult learners who are employees, can you apply this method? Explain your answer  ... told to memorize them, and then are asked to apply the rules to other examples  Grammar rules are explicitly taught & translation is the common way to clarify the meaning of grammar patterns...  Other techniques: using synonym & antonym and cognates (having the same origin as another word or language) How grammar is taught  Ss study grammar deductively; i.e they are given the grammar. .. rarely DISCUSSION Work in group of to discuss the answers to the following questions: What are some advantages & disadvantages of the Grammar Translation Method? Use specific examples to support your