THE STRUCTURAL APPROACH

THE STRUCTURAL APPROACH 

As the name suggests, the method is all about structure. The idea is that any language is made up of complex grammar rules. These rules, according to this approach need to be learnt in a specific order, for example the logical thing would be to teach the verb “to be” prior to teaching the present continuous which requires using the auxiliary form of the verb “to be.”

GENERAL OPINION

This method makes the learner learn in a specific order

ADVANTAGES 

-Within the structural approach, the following can be taught by different methods 

-Transposition: sometimes, a change in the order of the sentence is necessary when a word is added a word is added. 

DISADVANTAGES 

Some gaps may appear in the student's training.

THE LEXICAL APPROACH

 THE LEXICAL APPROACH

The Lexical syllabus or approach is based on computer studies that have previously identified the most commonly used words. This approach in teaching focuses on vocabulary acquisition and teaching lexical chunks in order of their frequency and use. Teachers of the Lexical Approach place a great emphasis on authentic materials and realistic scenarios for more valuable learning.

GENERAL OPINION

I consider that the lexical approach is dynamic and knowledge can be increased because the different adducts provide varied information that contributes to broadening the knowledge that one has about the different units, which allows understanding and using words, although more knowledge is necessary to produce than to  understand.  On the other hand, it is also important that the different units establish multiple relationships among themselves and that the lexicon is organized.

ADVANTAGE

Develop the ability to understand syntactic aspects.  Students are able to learn new vocabulary to talk about different trades and professions.  Encourage the use of the dictionary.  It offers many new and effective vocabulary activities.

DISADVANTAGES

Students will not match the lexical inventory of native speakers Lacks a precise methodology.

THE GRAMMAR TRASLATION METHOD

 

THE GRAMMAR TRASLATION METHOD 

Just like its name suggests, this method of teaching English is grammar heavy and relies a lot on translation. This is the traditional or ‘classical’ way of learning a language and it’s still commonly used when learning some languages. Some countries prefer this style of teaching and the main idea behind this method is that the students learn all grammar rules, so they’re able to translate a number of sentences. This is particularly common for those students who wish to study literature at a deeper level.

GENERAL OPINION

For me this method is very good, but it should not be used 100% in teaching, since it must be complemented with some other methods.

ADVANTAGE

The detailed analysis of the grammatical rules and exceptions to then apply the acquired knowledge to the translation of sentences and texts that is carried out from the target language to the own language and vice versa.

DISADVANTAGES

Giving students the already systematized rules is:

• Using their capacity for reflection very little,
• Which means giving them an extremely passive role.
• When producing several problems arise.

COMMUNICATIVE LANGUAGE TEACHING (CLT)

COMMUNICATIVE LANGUAGE TEACHING (CLT)

The idea behind this approach is to help learners communicate more effectively and correctly in realistic situations that they may find themselves in. This type of teaching involves focusing on important functions like suggesting, thanking, inviting, complaining, and asking for directions to name but a few.

GENERAL OPINION 

Such a method helps learners create meaningful sentences (rather than helping them build perfectly correct grammatical structures or achieve perfect pronunciation). 

ADVANTAGES 

-Emphasizes communication in the foreign language through interaction.

-It gives importance to students' personal experiences as elements that contribute to classroom learning.

-Attempts to relate the language learned in the classroom to activities carried out outside the classroom, in real social contexts.

DISADVANTAGES 

The teaching of a language and its efficiency depends partially on the ability to understand the methodology being used and the effects it can have on the learners and their needs.

SUGGESTOPEDIA

 

SUGGESTOPEDIA

This is a behaviourist theory and related to pseudoscience. This method relies heavily on students’ belief about the method’s effectiveness. This theory is intended to offer learners various choices, which in turn helps them become more responsible for their learning.

 

It relies a lot on the atmosphere and the physical surroundings of the class. It’s essential that all learners feel equally comfortable and confident. When teachers are training to use the Suggestopedia method, there’s a lot of art and music involved. Each Suggestopedia lesson is divided into three different phases.

1. Deciphering 

2. Concert Session

3. Elaboration.

GENERAL OPINION

In my point of view, this suggestion-pediatric method is good since it addresses the student, not to the memorization of vocabulary and the acquisition of speaking habits, but to the acts of communication.

ADVANTAGE

• The class takes place in a calm and relaxed atmosphere.  

• The class is accompanied by relaxed music in the background.  

• The characteristics of the environment help reduce student anxiety. 

• Use of the target language and mother tongue as support.

DISADVANTAGES

• The use of the language occurs in a non-real context.

• It is a good method to start and / or end the class, but not to use it all the time.

• Students assume a 'passive' role while listening to music or to the teacher. · It is effective only in small groups.

• The teacher You must show absolute confidence in the method, have acting and singing skills, and handle psychotherapeutic techniques.

The Silent Way

 The Silent Way

The Silent Way emphasises learner autonomy. The teacher acts merely as a facilitator trying to encourage students to be more active in their learning. The main of this way of teaching is for the teacher to say very little, so students can take control of their learning. There’s a big emphasis on pronunciation and a large chunk of the lesson focuses on it. This method of learning English follows a structural syllabus and grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation are constantly drilled and recycled for reinforcement. The teacher evaluates their students through careful observation, and it’s even possible that they may never set a formal test as learners are encouraged to correct their own language errors.

GENERAL OPINION

The silent method could help me in my language classes using the logical part, so I think that the silence method is a very good work strategy since the didactics guarantees the logical learning of the language because it is a method that is based on the idea  that the teacher should keep the utmost silence and encourage students to produce statements.

ADVANTAGE

It can be used mainly in teaching subjects such as mathematics, prepositions of place, phrases and pronunciation.

                                                    DISADVANTAGES 

Teaching vocabulary seems tedious and could become a barrier to learning.  At advanced levels it is not very effective, since it faces difficulties having fulfilled the task of teaching the language.

TASK BASED LANGUAGE LEARNING

TASK BASED LANGUAGE LEARNING 

The main aim of this approach to learning is task completion. Usually, relevant and interesting tasks are set by the teacher and students are expected to draw on their pre-existing knowledge of English to complete the task with as few errors as possible.

GENERAL OPINION 

En este método los alumnos desarrollan una tarea comunicativa usando el lenguaje que han adquirido. Es solamente después de que se ha completado el ciclo de tareas que la atención de los alumnos se dirige a las formas específicas del lenguaje.

ADVANTAGE

-In task-based learning, learners focus first on meaning.

-The task focuses on the use of language for actual communication.

-Tasks are based on the needs, interests and goals of the learners.

-Tasks encourage learners to use all of their linguistic resources rather than selected aspects of the language.

DISADVANTAGES

The teacher should try to prevent them by being prepared to deal with any possible disruptions and disturbances by using techniques such as eye contact and directing questions or comments to students. questions or comments to students.

TOTAL PHYSICAL RESPONSE

TOTAL PHYSICAL RESPONSE 

Total Physical Response, otherwise known as TPR is an approach that follows the idea of ‘learning by doing’. Beginners will learn English through a series of repetitive actions such as “Stand up”, “Open your book”, “Close the door”, and “Walk to the window and open it.” With TPR, the most important skill is aural comprehension and everything else will follow naturally later.

GENERAL OPINION 

This teaching method useful for learning languages and it consists of approaching another language in the same way that we learned our mother tongue, so when we use this system to learn English, the first skills that are practiced are the receptive ones.

ADVANTAGE

-It requires no aptitude and works well with classes of mixed ability students.

-It is good for kinesthetic learners who need to be always active in the classroom. 

-The activities are simple and do not require special preparation by the teacher. 

DISADVANTAGES

-It is most useful for beginners, although it can be used at higher levels where preparation becomes more complicated for the instructor.

COMMUNITY LANGUAGE LEARNING

COMMUNITY LANGUAGE LEARNING

This is probably one of the English teaching methods where the student feels the safest as there’s a great emphasis on the relationship and bond between the student and teacher. Unlike a lot of the other methods and approaches of teaching English as a Second Language, a lot of the L1 (mother tongue) is used for translation purposes.

GENERAL OPINION

I consider this method very good because it is based on advice, that is, the teacher acts as a paraphraser, while the student acts as a collaborator when receiving all the indications. This reinforces the teacher-student bond.

ADVANTAGE

• The student feels the safest.

• There’s a great emphasis on the relationship and bond between the student and teacher.

• Is used for translation purposes.

DISADVANTAGES

• That the teacher does not have the skill to lead the learning on a good path.

• There may be students who do not adapt to this teaching method.

THE AUDIO LINGUAL METHOD

THE AUDIO LINGUAL METHOD

The Audio Lingual Method otherwise known as the New Key Method or Army Method is based on a behavirourist theory that things are able to be learned by constant reinforcement. However, just like in the army when someone behaves badly (or in this case bad use of English), the learner receives negative feedback and the contrary happens when a student demonstrates good use of English.

This is related to the Direct Method and just like its predecessor it only uses the target language. The biggest difference between the Audio Lingual Method and the Direct Method is its focus of teaching. The Direct Methods focuses on the teaching of vocabulary whereas the Audio Lingual Method focuses on specific grammar teachings.

 

GENERAL OPINION

The Audio Lingual Method focuses on specific grammatical teachings, so its use benefits the student in terms of its translation and writing, thus promoting a better understanding of English. Since it is faster and more efficient

ADVANTAGE

• The student approaches and learns more to speak than to that of a native speaker.

• The student acquires fluency and attitude when speaking.

• He develops that each student learns and understands at her own pace.

• Encourage the development of feedback in the group.

DISADVANTAGES

• The student will be more interested in pronunciation than in grammar.

THE DIRECT METHOD

THE DIRECT METHOD

If you’ve ever heard the Direct Method being taught, you may have rightly mistaken it for some sort of military drill, which is not far off as it was first established in France and Germany in the early 1900’s to assist soldiers to communicate in a second language quickly.

The direct method of teaching English is also known as the Natural Method. It’s used to teach a number of different languages not just English, and the main idea of the Direct Method is that it only uses the target language that the students are trying to learn.

Its main focus is oral skill and it is taught via repetitive drilling. Grammar is taught using an inductive way and students need to try and guess the rules through the teacher’s oral presentation.

Today popular forms of the Direct Method are Callan and Berlitz.

GENERAL OPINION 

This method is very effective since it practically forces students to speak in English, which makes them more involved in speaking, since communication will be necessary to over ask something.

ADVANTAGE

• Facilitates a better understanding of the language by avoiding interference.

• Improves the student's fluency and confidence to express herself in the language she is learning.

• It has a positive impact on your ability to express yourself in writing.

• Students have an active role in class with the teacher