Teaching English in Libya

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In the past and present day in Libya, learning English has been free to all students at all levels. Students start learning English as one of the main subjects from the age of 12 until the university stage. Libyan teachers followed the old traditional system, which was the grammar translation method. This method was based on analysing the grammar rules followed by translating of sentences and texts into the students’ target language and memorizing large amount of vocabulary, which was selected from the reading texts. Moreover, several of vocabulary items presented with their translation equivalents. As Larsen-Freeman points out, “students are given lists of the target language vocabulary words and their native language equivalent and are asked to memorize them”. Otherwise, reading and writing were a major focus whereas no systematic attention was paid to speaking and listening. For that reason, teachers tended to use the grammar translation method by focusing on these features. “In Libya, the teaching was by using a translation method, which emphasized the acquisition of vocabulary through reading” (Barton, 1968). As a result, teachers ignored all the communicative approach and techniques inside the class, for instance using different interaction activities such as games to attract learners’ attention and keep them interested in the topic. It is known in Libya that grammar was taught deductively, by explaining basic grammar rules and practicing through a number of translation exercises whereas, the other vital skills such as writing, speaking and listening were not taken into account. Teachers followed the grammar translation techniques, which contained the translation of reading texts, and students had to translate these texts ... ... middle of paper ... ...d attempt to communicate with it in their personal life. Works Cited 1-Lindsay,C & Knight,P.(2006)learning and teaching English. 1st addition.Great Clarendon Street:Oxford. 2-Curran,C.(2007) community language learning. Available at :http//www.englishraven.com/method_communit.html 3-Hinkel.E.(2006)Current prespective on teaching the four skills.TESOLQuartelly,40(1),115. Kumaravadivelu,B.(2006) TESOL QUARTERLY ,changing tracks, challenging tracks ,40 (1),61. /2--Barton, L. (1968) English teaching. Available at: http://www.unesco.org/Accessed:27 august 1965-1968 Harmer, J. (2oo7). THE PRACTICE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING. Harlow, Pearson limited. .3. Griffith, S. (2009) teaching English abroad, Great Britain, p66. Kumaravadivelu,B.(2006) TESOL Quarterly, changing tracks, challenging trends ,40(1),61.

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