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Monday, February 3, 2014

The Grammar Translation Method


Dear all,

So, here we begin with the Grammar Translation Method. I am posting an introduction given by one of your friends to this method. Please add relevant points to this. You can classify them under three titles - 
I. Historical Background
II. Principles
III. Techniques
IV. Advantages and Disadvantages
V. Its Relevance today - in this section I would like all of you to give your personal response as to this method. Share with everyone, what you think is relevant to today's classroom and what is not.
So lets begin

INTRODUCTION

The “Grammar-translation method” of foreign language teaching is one of the most traditional methods, dating back to the late nineteenth and early twentieth century’s. It was originally used to teach 'dead' languages (and literatures) such as Latin and Greek. The method requires students to translate whole texts word for word and memorize numerous grammatical rules and exceptions as well as enormous vocabulary lists. 

The goal of this method is to be able to read and translate literary masterpieces and classics and this may account for its heavy bias towards written work to the virtual exclusion of oral production.”

28 comments:

  1. historical backhground:- GTM did nt begin as a method for teaching English. it was menant to teach classical languages like latin.

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  2. Technique:
    1.Translation of literary passages is done by teacher in the classroom in using this GTM method.

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  3. Its Relevance today : At some extant, GTM is required in the beginning of studies in Gujarati medium. Because at that time students have no knowledge of English language. And when they attend higher level, GTM will not required.

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  4. Principle:
    Literary language is superior to the spoken/everyday language.

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  5. Technique: Fill in the blank, will help the students to master the learned structure of the sentence.

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  6. GTM focuses more on developing reading ability of the students. It does not provide speaking opportunity to students as most of time teacher is at center of teaching-learning process. Students don't try to learn new things except what teacher teaches. So it is one of the drawbacks.

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  7. Principle:
    it focuses on accuracy not fluency.

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  8. Principle:
    The primary skills to be improved are reading and writing.

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  9. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  10. Disadvantage:
    more focus on reading and writing skill.speaking and listening skills was avoided in this method. students also not much motivated and exited while learning because teacher play role is huge students got little scope in classroom for perform.

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  11. Technique:
    Translation of literary passage:
    students translate a reading passage from the target language into their native language.

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  12. advantages:
    this method is the easiest way of explaining the words and phrases of the the foreign language.

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  13. Principle : To the beginners, GTM helps the students to understand what is being taught.
    e.g- How to structure a sentence,where to use which verb.

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  14. It came to be learned as a purely academic subject. One is to develop students’ reading ability to a level where they can read literature in the target language. The other is to develop students’ general mental discipline.

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  15. its necessary at initial stage of learner..

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  16. historical background: after the decline of Latin, the purpose of learning has been changed specially in schooling. when modern languages did begin to appear in school syllabi in 19th century, teacher taught them with the same grammar translation method which was used for classical Latin and Greek languages.

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  17. Disadvantages
    This method is unnatural. It does not follow principles of learning a language.

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  18. GTM - disadvantage- the greatest weakness of this method is that the students focus more on learning grammar rather than producing language themselves.

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  19. Disadvantages:- In Grammar translation method student can not improve LSRW.

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  20. Techniques: Antonyms/Synonyms
    students are given the set of words and are asked to find antonyms in the reading passage and the same exercise could be done by synonyms.

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  21. Disadvantages:
    More importance on grammar rules then on meaning.

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  22. Direct method - Developing ability to think in TL.

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  23. I am talking about the community language. This is a method It is used to be learner and teacher. Also the method draws on the counseling metaphor and refers to these respective roles as a counselor and a client.

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    Replies
    1. hemant, we will have a separate post on Community Language Learning so you will get a chance to post on it there.

      thank you for the comment :).

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  24. the ultimate objectives to be able to read understand and appreciate written target lit.

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  25. Grammar translation method is the method of foreign language teaching and how to learn language effectively. Its improve grammar, vocabulary, sentence pattern and some of grammatical rules are how to apply in language.

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