The natural approach

Presented by: Younes TAIAPresented by: Younes TAIAyounes.taia@gmail.comyounes.taia@gmail.com

TEFL&ICT Master programTEFL&ICT Master program

The Natural Approach

University of Ibn-Zohr Methods and Techniques FLSH Prof. Naima TRIMASSE MA TEFL&ICT Semester 2

References :Jack C.Richards and Theodore S.Rodgers. Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching: A description and analysis. Cambridge University Press.

Outline

The theoretical backgroundDefinition Principles and foundations TPR VS NAProcedures and techniquesLearning process.How does NA syllabus look like? Strengths Weaknesses

The Natural Approach is based on the following

assumptions.

► The Naturalistic view of Child Language Acquisition.

► James Asher’s TPR► Stephen Krashen and Tracy Terrell ’s works

on Second Language Acquisition (SLA).

What is the Natural Approach?

The Natural Approach (NA henceforth) is a method of foreign language teaching which aims to apply the

principles of natural language acquisition into classroom. It focus on:

►helping beginners to become intermediate.

►Enhancing communication skills.►The primacy of meaning.

Underlying principles of NA

► Advocating the use of TPR activities.► Delaying production until speech emerges.► Learners should be relaxed as possible in

classroom.► Comprehensible input is crucial for triggering the

acquisition of language.► Providing understandable input that is little

beyond the learners’ level (i+1).

► Gaining personal communication skills.► The teacher is the source of the learners' input.► Errors are tolerated at certain level providing,

that they do not hinder or block the meaning.► meaning is paramount.

Underlying principles of NA

Does the NA have something to share with TPR?

Using TPR activities/learning through actions - learning through imperative, interrogative

and command mood. The call for a “Silent period”

- like child language acquisition, second language learners need a silent phase

at which they receive understandable input.

Procedures and Techniques

► TPR activities (commands and interrogatives).

► Group activities.► Complex games, role-plays, open-ended

dialogs, and discussions.► visual aids.► Error correction should be minimised.► Creating the ground for learners/ lowering

the affective filter.► demonstrating using body language.► delaying production until speech emerges.

Learning Processes

How does NA syllabus look like?

► Communicative syllabus; mainly focusing on enhacing skills both oral and written.

Strengths

► following a logical/ rationale order.► attempting to reduce the learners’ inhibition.► a heavy stress is on meaning and vocabulary.► the use of target language.

Weaknesses

► The notion of “Silent Period”► How does a teacher manage such silent

class effectively?► Error treatment► Learners are passive at certain level► Little emphasis was given to grammar

analysis.► what type of input to provide.