Grammar-Translation Method

By NASRULLAH MAMBROL on November 9, 2020 • ( 0 )

Richards and Schmidt (Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics 2002, p. 231) have defined the grammar-translation method as “a method of foreign or second language teaching which makes use of translation and grammar study as the main teaching and learning activities.” The grammar-translation method was originally called the classical method because it was mainly used in the teaching of Latin and Greek in the 16th century. In the early 19th century, which saw the decline of Latin and its relegation to an academic language, the grammar-translation method was adopted to help L2 learners to read, study, and translate foreign languages and language literature. Two of the key assumptions of this methodology were that:

(1) language learners must develop a good knowledge (learning and memorizing grammatical rules) of the grammatical systems of their first (L1) and second languages (L2), and

(2) they need to be able to develop the ability to translate texts from their L1 into the L2 and vice versa. Ability to accurately translate texts was associated with the ability to learn the grammatical system of the target language. The grammar-translation method viewed the study of a language as the memorization of rules to be able to manipulate its morphological and syntactical system. Grammar is taught deductively (by the presentation of rules followed by translation practice) and accuracy in translating sentences and texts is the main focus of this methodology.

As Richards and Rodgers (2001, p. 6) have pointed out “Grammar Translation dominated European and foreign language teaching from the 1840s to the 1940s, and in modified form it continues to be widely used in some parts of the world today.”

The grammar-translation method consists of a number of main principles which represent the building blocks of this language teaching methodology.

PRINCIPLES

According to the grammar-translation method, the learning and teaching of languages consist of the following principles:

Teachers must assert their authority, as their role is to transmit knowledge to learners and the learner’s native language is the medium for instruction. Very little teaching is done in the target language. It is an extremely teacher-centered method of teaching.
Learners need to be able to read the literature written in the target language and learn all the relevant vocabulary and grammar. Learners do not play any active role and there is little learner–learner interaction.
Literary language is superior to the spoken language. Learning a language consists of being able to read and translate a text into and out of the target language. The main focus of teaching is to develop the learner’s ability to read, write, and translate. Teachers would not direct learner’s attention to the content of the text which is treated as a translation exercise. Reading of very complex classical texts begins early. To be able to communicate using the target language is not an important goal for learners.
The focus is on accuracy and not fluency. The grammar is taught systematically (following a sequencing grammar syllabus) through explicit extensive and elaborated teaching of grammatical rules. The main assumption is that a second language is learned through the deduction of the grammatical properties of a target L2. When learners have developed a conscious and explicit representation of that language, they can apply this ability in the production of sentences through translation from one language to the other.
Errors are corrected. If learners answer a question incorrectly, the teacher would select somebody else to give the correct answer and/or he/she replies directly.
Learners should memorize vocabulary in the form of isolated word lists. Vocabulary in the target language is learned through translation from the native language

CRITICISM

In the grammar-translation method, the main goal for instruction is the ability to attain a high proficiency standard in translation and grammar accuracy. It does not require teachers to be native speakers (classes are not taught using the target language) and it does not require a lot of preparation. The ability to communicate using the target language is not the main goal for instruction. This methodology provides learners with the view that language is simply a collection of words which are isolated and independent. It seemed that for this methodology there is no need for learners to master the four language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing).The grammar-translation method was questioned by researchers and language educators in the mid-19th century. Researchers of L1 and L2 acquisition believed that people learn languages by being exposed to the target language (the language they hear) and by making connections between words and their meaning. Educators emphasized the importance of communication and the development of oral and comprehension skills. Because of the emphasis of the grammar- translation method on the memorization of grammatical rules and translation, and the lack of attention to the development of comprehension and speaking proficiency, this methodology was rejected. Teachers decided to direct their attention toward methodology such as the direct method (Wong, 2005) that fostered listening and communication skills.

Richards and Rodgers (2001, p. 4) describe the grammar-translation method as “a tedious experience of memorizing endless lists of unusable grammar rules and vocabulary and attempting to produce perfect translations of stilted or literary prose,” and they continue, “it is a method for which there is no theory. There is no literature that offers a rationale or justification for it or that attempts to relate it to issues in linguistics, psychology, or educational theory.” Despite these shortcomings there are still traces of the use of the grammar-translation method by language teachers today (Richards & Rogers, 2001).

PEDAGOGICAL IMPLICATIONS

Based on the principles outlined in the previous section, a variety of techniques have been developed to help learners translate, practice, and memorize the new language. The main techniques are:

1. Read and translate a literary passage. Learners are asked to translate a literary pas-sage and then translate (mainly written translation) the target language into their native language. The passage provides the stimulus for learning vocabulary and grammar. The main focus is reading and writing at the expense of listening and speaking. Learners’ native language is used for explanations, translations, and comparisons between the native language and the target language.

2. Reading comprehension questions. Learners answer questions in the target language based on the reading text and on the student’s own experience related to the text.

3. Deductive grammar practice. Grammatical rules are presented by teachers using paradigms and examples. Learners are asked to learn rules and apply them through translation exercises. Sentences are the main unit of the teaching session and learners are asked to translate them into and out of the target language.

4. Fill in the blanks exercises. Learners are given sentences or passages with words missing. They are asked to fill in the blanks with the correct vocabulary or grammatical item.

5. Memorization practice. Learners are given a list of words with the native language equivalent and they are asked to memorize them. The selection of the vocabulary is based on the text used and learners are taught through bilingual word lists. They are also asked to memorize grammatical rules, and grammatical paradigms. The priority is to become accurate and to attain very high standards in translation.

6. Composition. Teachers give learners a topic and ask them to write a composition on that topic in the target language. The topic is usually based on some aspects of the reading text.