The Grammar-Translation Method Chapter Two. 1. Background 2. Theoretical Basis 3. Basic Principles 4. Summary and Comments 5. suggestions 6. Discussion.

The Grammar-Translation Method

Chapter Two

1. Background

2. Theoretical Basis

3. Basic Principles

4. Summary and Comments

5. suggestions

6. Discussion

Questions

1. What is the Grammar Translation Method? 2. Why is it called the classical method? 3. How did it come into being? 4. What are its theoretical basis? 5. What are its main features? 6. What are its classroom teaching techniques? 6. What are its classroom teaching procedures?

The Grammar-Translation Method is a method of foreign or second language teaching that uses translation and grammar study as the main teaching and learning activities. At one time it was called Classical Method since it was first used in the teaching of the classical languages of Latin and Greek.

1. Background

Grammar analysis and translation were the basic

procedures in foreign language teaching from

16th century.

Latin was a language of spoken and written

communication in the Western world, and was

the world’s most widely studied foreign

language.

The purpose of learning Latin was to study

classical culture and to train the mind by logical

analysis of the classical language. People made a

study of language in order to understand the

classic works of ancient times and in order to be

able to teach students, enabling them to

understand and appreciate those classic works.

In 18th century, modern languages were taught

using the same procedures.

Grammar-Translation Method came into being in

the 18th century.

In the 19th century, more experts of foreign

language teaching adopted the strategy of

combining grammar rules with translation.

2. Theoretical Basis

1) Theory of language（ 1 ） All languages originate from one

language and are governed by a common grammar.

（ 2 ） Written form of the language is superior to the spoken form.

（ 3 ） Students’ first language is the reference system in the learning of the target language.

（ 4 ） Understanding and memorizing grammatical rules of languages help to develop mentally.

（ 5 ） Latin grammar is the most logical and well-organized grammar.

（ 6 ） Language was a body of knowledge to be learned.

（ 7 ） The emphasis is an intellectual development( 智力发展） .

2) Theory of learning

The mind of human beings has various faculties

that can be trained separately. The theory of

learning underlying the Grammar-Translation

Method was Faculty Psychology （ 官 能 心 理学） .

3. Basic Principles

1) Main features

（ 1 ） As its name suggests, the Grammar-

Translation Method emphasized the teaching of

the second language grammar.

（ 2 ） Grammar is regarded as the core of

language, so it is the main content in foreign

language classroom.

（ 3 ） The process of learning grammar is an

important means of training mental abilities.

（ 4 ） Language materials are arranged

according to grammar.

（ 5 ） Analysis, explanation, translation are

main teaching activities.

（ 6 ） The major practice is translating from

and into the target language.

（ 7 ） The focus is reading and writing.

（ 8 ） First language is the medium of instruction.

（ 9 ） Sentence is the basic unit of language

teaching and learning.

（ 10 ） Accuracy is emphasized.

2) Objectives

The objectives of language teaching are enabling students:

to read and translate literature;

to understand the target language;

to develop their minds;

to gain a better understanding of the first language.

3) Techniques

（ 1 ） Reading passages mainly from literary

works

（ 2 ） Translation

（ 3 ） Deductive teaching of grammar (Grammar

rules are taught directly by the teacher, with

exception to each rule noted. Then the rules are

practiced through translation exercises.)

（ 4 ） Analysis and comparison

（ 5 ） Memorization

（ 6 ） Comprehension questions to check reading

（ 7 ） Fill-in-blanks

（ 8 ） Sentence making

（ 9 ） Composition

4) Procedures

Phase one

Explanation of new words and expressions

Teaching of new structures

Phase two

Students’ translation of the text

Teacher’s analysis of the text

Answering possible questions from students

Phase three

Working out answers to comprehension questions

Written work

4. Summary and Comments Advantages:

（ 1 ） The first language is maintained as the

reference system in the learning of the second

language.

（ 2 ） Systematic study of grammatical rules plays

an important role in fostering students’ ability of

reading comprehension and producing

grammatically correct sentences.

（ 3 ） The focus on understanding culture

provides the situation in which reading and writing

abilities are well trained.

（ 4 ） It is relatively easy to apply.

Disadvantages:

（ 1 ） Overemphasis on translation

（ 2 ） Dependence on first language

（ 3 ） Too much emphasis on reading and writing ， Listening and speaking neglected

（ 4 ） Not meeting the communicative needs of

the students

（ 5 ） Rote-learning （机械学习） / Memorizing

grammar rules and bilingual word lists does not

motivate students to actively communicate in the

target language.

5. Suggestion

Backward

Limited use for Listening & Speaking.

Controlled use for reading & writing.

Limited use for grammar, vocabulary.

Limited use for junior grades

Controlled use for senior grades.

6. Discussion

Your own opinion and judgment of the

Method

What is the focus of a Grammar-Translation

classroom?