The GrammarGrammar-Translation Method

What is Grammar Translation Method?

The grammar-translation method of foreign language teaching is one of the most traditional methods. It was originally used to teach 'dead' languages (and literatures) such as Latin and Greek, involving little or no spoken communication or listening comprehension.

1- Original purposes
Helping students read and appreciate

foreign language literature

Students can become more familiar with

the grammar of their native language also write and speak their native language better
Helpful for mental exercise

Objectives of GTM


To be able to read literature written in the target language To be able to translate from one language to another To develop reading and writing skill

The ability of communicating in the target language is not a goal

The students ask questions in their

native language and are also answered by the teacher also in their native language
The teacher asks students in their

native language

2.Roles of Teachers: Teachers: The teacher is the authority teacher

Teacher decides whether the students

answers are correct

It is important for students to get the

correct answers
If students answer incorrectly, the teacher

will provide the correct answer

3.Roles of Students 3.Roles

Students do what teacher says y Students are passive
y

4- Characteristics of The Teaching & Learning Process

A focus on learning the rules of grammar and their application in translation passages from one language into the other. Vocabulary in the target language is learned through direct translation from the native language, it is taught in the form of isolated word lists.
4.Characteristics

Very little teaching is done in the target language. Instead, readings in the target language are translated directly and then discussed in the native language. Little or no attention is given to pronunciation. Grammar is taught with extensive explanations in the native language, and only later applied in the production of sentences through translation from one language to the other.

A class working with the Grammar Translation Method looks like this:
1. Classes are taught in the mother tongue, with little active use of the target language. 2. Much vocabulary is taught in the form of lists of isolated words. 3. Long elaborate explanations of the intricacies of grammar are given. 4. Grammar provides the rule for putting words together, and instruction often focuses on the form and inflection of words. 5. Reading of difficult classical texts is begun early. 6. Little attention is paid to the content of texts, which are treated as exercises in grammatical analysis.

5.Student5.Student-Teacher Interaction
Students-teacher interaction (mostly) y Students initation is little
y

6.Student-Student Interaction 6.StudentStudent-student interaction is little

7.Dealing 7.Dealing with Students Feelings Students

y No

Principles

8.View of Language
y Literary language

is superior to spoken

language

9.View 9.View of Culture

y Limited

literature & fine arts of L2

10. 10. Emphasis on Areas of Language

y Vocabulary and

grammar (teaching the form) = form based

11. 11. Emphasis on Language Skills

y Reading and writing y Little attention to listening,pronunciation and speaking

12.Role of L1
Classroom language is L1 y Meaning of L2 is made clear by translation into L1
y

13.Evaluation
Written tests ( students translate from L1 to L2, L2 to L1) y Questions about L2 and applying grammar rules
y

14.Teachers response to Students errors errors

y

Incorrect answers are corrected by the teacher immediately

It is important that student must get the correct answer by oneself

Its focus is on accuracy not fluency.

Techniques
Translation of literary passage Reading comprehension questions Use of antonyms/synonyms Use of cognates Deductive application of a rule Fill-in-the-blanks Memorization Use words in sentences; and Composition

Exercises of a class using this method

1. Translation of a Literary Passage Students translate a reading passage from the target language into their native language. 2. Reading Comprehension Questions Students answer questions in the target language based on their understanding of the reading passage. 3. Antonym/synonyms Students are given one set of words and are asked to find antonyms in the reading passage. 4. Fill-in-the-blanks Students are given a series of sentences with words missing. 5. Deductive Application of Rule Grammar rules are presented with examples. Once students understand a rule, they are asked to apply it to some different example.

Techniques
 Translation of

a literary passage

Students will be asked to read a literary passage

and then translate the target language into their native language
Translation may be written or spoken Translation made by the students can show that

they understand their meaning

 Deductive

application of rules

It is important for students to learn about the

forms(grammar rules) of the target language

Grammar rules are presented with examples Students are asked to apply the rules to

examples they are given

 Reading

comprehension questions

Students answer these questions in the target

language
Answers to the questions may be in the

reading text, or based on the understanding of the students or students own experiences related to the text

 Memorization
Students are asked to memorize new words, grammatical

rules, and verb conjugation

 Fill-in-the-blanks Fill-in-the Teacher give students sentences with word

missing
Students should fill in the blanks with the new

vocabulary or with a particular grammar type

 Use

words in sentences

Students are asked to make up sentences with the

new words they learn in the text

This technique can show whether students really

understand the new words

 Composition Students are asked to write a composition in the

target language The topic is based on some aspect of the reading passage

Advantages of GTM
 An

effective way for application of

grammar and sentence structure

 Least

stressful for students the new language without

 Students learn

contact with native speakers.

More Advantages
 

Easiest for teachers to use Does not require teachers to speak good English or make good lesson preparations.

 

Only uses the textbook Least stressful for students-teaching occurs in the first language

Possible problem: Lack of communication ability

Students learn about and are familiar

with the forms of the target language but only in reading and writing
Students lack the ability of listening

and speaking in the target language

Disadvantage of GTM
 Wrong

idea of what language is motivation

 Less learners  Create

frustration for learners

Disadvantages
Students lack comprehension-only translating word-for-word  Does not allow students to create meaning in English  Students do not learn to read.  Extensive memorization  Very little student/teacher and student/student interaction


This method gives pupils the wrong idea of what language is and of the relationship between languages. Language is seen as a collection or words which are isolated and independent. Worst effect of this method is on pupil's motivation. Because (s)he cannot succeed - leads to frustration, boredom and indiscipline.

It seemed there was no need for students to master the four skills of English (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) The grammar-translation grammarmethod is the easiest for a teacher to employ. It doesn't require a teacher to speak good English or make good lesson preparations.