Grammar- Translation Method of Teaching English

The basic purpose of teaching the target language through this method is to be able to read literature writen in the target language. This can be reached by learning grammar rules and vocabulary of the target language.The main principles on which the grammar- translation method is based are the following:

• Grammar is taught deductively and than practiced through translation excercises.

• The primary skills to be developed are reading and writing

• Hardly any attention is paid to speaking and listening

• The goal of foreign language learning is to gain the ability to understand the texts written in the foreign language

• Teacher's correction is the only way to make students produce the right forms of the foreign language

• Vocabulary is learnt from bilingual word lists

• Mastering the grammar of the foreign language is essential in order for students to understand the written target language

The procedure of teaching English is a combination of activities of teaching grammar and translation. The teaching begins with english rules, vocabulary items, translation. The teacher explains the rules and then students put simple words into slots of grammatical rules. The grammar rules are memorized as units. The students are expected to be conscious of the grammatical rules of the target language. Usualy the sequence of the teaching materials is based on the easiness of the rules. It's grammatical syllabus is gradd from the easy grammatical rles to more difficult ones. Very little teaching is done in the target language. Language learners are not expected to use the foreign language for communication.No class time is provided for students to produce their own sentences and litlle time is spent on oral practice. The emphasis is on ...

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...a series of sentences with words missing. Then fill in the blanks with new vocabulary items or with items of a particular grammar type, such as preposition or verbs with different tenses.

7. Memorization. Students are given lists of target language vocabulary words and their native language equivalents and asked to memorize them. They are also required to memorize grammar rules and grammar paradigms such as verb conjugations.

8. Use words in sentences. In order to show that students understand the meaning and use of a new vocabulary item, they make up sentences in which they use the new words.

9. Composition. The teacher gives students a topic to write about in the target language. The topic is based upon some aspect of the reading passage of the lesson. Sometimes, instead of creating a composition, students are asked to prepare a precis of the reading passage.