2015-10-16
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The Grammar translation method or classical method emerged when people of the western world wanted to learn ‘foreign’ languages. Until the 17th century much of the language teaching involved Latin. Its focus was on grammatical rules, the memorisation of vocabulary and of various declensions and conjugations, translations of texts, doing written exercises. The so-called grammar-translation method remained the dominant foreign language teaching method in Europe until the 1940s, and in some parts of the world a somewhat altered version is still used. One can say that while the GT method tends to see language as being learnt as a series of facts to be poured into the learners head, the teacher is considered the fount of
knowledge and the learner is seen as a passive receiver. A class working with the Grammar translation Method would look like that: 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.
Grid
A pattern of straight lines that cross each other to make squares.
Group/class dynamics
The relationship between learners in the group or class.
Grouping
Arranging students into groups to help them learn better.
Guided writing
A piece of writing that learners produce after the teacher has helped them to prepare for it by, for example giving the learners a plan to follow, or ideas for the type of language to use. See process writing and product writing.
H
Handout, worksheet
A piece of paper with exercises, activities or tasks on it that a teacher gives to learners for a range of reasons during a class or for reference or homework.
Heterogeneous groups
Groups of students of mixed abilities
