TEACHING OF PROSE PART II

DIRECT METHOD AND GRAMMAR TRANSLATION METHOD

GRAMMAR TRANSLATION METHOD

This is an age old method. This method was largely used in Europe to teach Latin.

TEACHING, LEARNING PROCEDURE:

The teacher reads words, sentences or paragraphs and translates each and every word into
the pupils’ mother tongue. He writes the meaning of the difficult word on the black-
board. The pupils are expected to learn the meanings by heart. They are also asked to
translate few words or sentences into their mother tongue. The teacher follows deductive
approach for teaching grammar. He explains the grammar rules in the pupils mother
tongue and gives examples. The pupils are asked to learn the rules by heart.

ADVANTAGES OF TRANSLATION METHOD:

1. The advocates of this method believe that translation can best interpret the
language items.
2. The pupil grasps the language items quickly and easily.
3. It saves lot of time and energy which would be spent on explaining the item.
4. This method helps the pupil to enrich his vocabulary.
5. The pupil acquires the skill in translating the English text into mother tongue and
vice-versa.

DISADVANTAGES OF TRANSLATION METHOD

1. Reading and writing skills are emphasized at the cost of listening and speaking
skills.
2. The teaching learning process becomes mechanical and uninteresting.
3. Translation is equitted with reading, writing and speaking. This results in
achieving just the passive mastery over the language.
4. It encourages the habit of word to word translation.
5. The mother tongue plays interfering function.

THE DIRECT METHOD

The direct method came into being as a reaction against the translation method.

WHAT IS DIRECT METHOD?

The Direct method is a method of teaching language by which the words, phrases are
connected in pupils mind directly with what they stand for and not through the mother
tongue. Direct method is a method of teaching a foreign language through conversation,
discussion and reading in the language itself rather than using pupils language, translating
language items into his mother-tongue and learning the grammar rules by heart. It is a
way of handling language material and presenting it to the students. It demands direct
association between the words and the themes and between sentences and ideas.

CHARACTERISTICS OF DIRECT METHOD.

1. Very restricted application or very often complete elimination of translation as
means of teaching.
2. Ample use of audio visual aids and oral as well as written exercises.
3. Inductive approach to the teaching of grammar.
4. Emphasis upon the phonetical aspect of the language.
5. Emphasis upon the listening and speaking skills.

ADVANTAGES:-

1. Language material is presented through the medium of English language and not
through the mother tongue. This provides the pupil with an opportunity of
listening to the spoken form of language.
2. Listening and speaking skills are given due importance.
3. The direct method enables the child to think in the foreign language without the
aid of mother tongue. This strengthens his ability of self-expression.
4. There is an ample scope for the use of audio visual aids. This makes the
teaching learning process more meaningful, interesting and concrete.
5. The direct method prepares an easy ground for writings.

LIMITATIONS:-

1. This method is useful for lower classes.

2. Every teacher cannot to expected to teach by this method.
3. This is an expensive method.
4. This method is suitable for small size classes.
5. All vocabulary items cannot be taught by this method.
6. This is a time consuming method.