The Grammar-Translation

Method

Introduction

• The Grammar-Translation Method is not new. It has had different names, but it has been used by language teachers for many years.

• It focus on the study of the grammar of the target language and students would become more familiar with the grammar of their native language.

Experience

Analysis of the experience

Now let us see what we have learned about the Grammar-Translation Method. We are going to make a few observations about the class. We will make our observations in order, following the lesson plan of the class we observed.

Analysis of the experience

1. The class is reading an excerpt from “Rio de Janeiro” by Klaus Rosmanitz.

2. Students translate the passage from English to Portuguese.

Analysis of the experience

3. The teacher asks students in their native language. If they have any question. A student asks one and is answered in her native language.

4. Students write out the answers to reading comprehension questions

Analysis of the experience

5. The teacher decides whether an answer is correct or not. If the answer is incorrect, the teacher selects a different student to supply the correct answer or the teacher herself gives the right answer.

6. Students translate new words from English into Portuguese.

Analysis of the experience

7. Students learn that English ‘ly' corresponds to (-mente) in Portuguese.

8. Students are given a grammar rule for the use of the simple past.

Analysis of the experience

9. Students apply a rule to examples they are given.

10. Students memorize vocabulary.

Analysis of the experience

11. The teacher asks students to state the grammar rule.

12. Students memorize present tense, past tense, forms of one set of irregular verbs.

Advantages and disadvantages

The teachers who use the Grammar-Translation Method, a fundamental purpose of learning a foreign language is to be able to read literature written in the target language. To do this, students need to learn about the grammar rules and vocabulary of the target language.

Advantages

• Easiest for teachers to use

• Does not require teachers to speak good English or make good lesson preparations.

•An effective way for application of grammar and sentence structure.

Advantages

• Least stressful for students-teaching, because occurs in the first language.

•Students learn the new language without direct contact with native speakers.

Disadvantages

• Students lack comprehension-only translating word-for-word.

•Does not allow students to create meaning in the english

Disadvantages

• Students most of time just learn to read literature and fine arts, does not concern about communication.

•Extensive memorization

Disadvantages

• Very little student/teacher and student/student interaction

•Speech is neglected as it lays emphasis on reading and writing

Conclusion

•We had the opportunity to examine the principles and some techniques of The Grammar-Translation Method. We believe that one of the main reasons for learning a foreign language according to this method is to be able to read and understand the literature of the target language. Making students able to read and write in the target language.