English Teaching Methods #3

 February 2^nd, 2024

By Marianne Celce-Murcia

In the vibrant field of language teaching, Richards and Rodgers' (2001) proposal provides a comprehensive approach to enhance the educational process. Their concept of method encompasses the elements of approach, design and procedure. Unlike Anthony, their approach is broader and more detailed, integrating theories about the nature of language and language learning with psychological and pedagogical principles.

Among the language teaching methods that can be used when teaching are the Audiolingual Method, which uses repetition and memorization of grammatical structures through intensive oral exercises; Sugestopedia, which creates a relaxed environment and uses suggestion techniques to increase learner receptivity; Total Physical Response (TPR), which combines language with physical actions to facilitate learning; The Direct Method, which encourages total immersion in the language without using the native language and focuses on speaking and comprehension of the language; and The Communicative Approach, which prioritizes communication and interaction in practical and meaningful contexts.

After reading this, I realized that there is a distinction between method and technique: a method is a general approach or set of systematic steps used to achieve a goal, while a technique is a specific action or skill used within that method to accomplish a particular task. On the other hand, it is important to consider how methods have been applied over time in a rapidly changing world of learning.

Based on the teaching I received, I was impressed by how Greek and Latin served as common languages in education and communication in ancient Greece and medieval Europe, playing a crucial role in areas such as religion, politics and business. Furthermore, discovering that Johann Amos Comenius popularized teaching techniques such as imitation, repetition and learning through pictures in the 17th century was significant. This information provided by the instructor has given me a broader perspective on teaching methods applied throughout history and continues to be utilized to this day.