Grammar Translation Method: Teach Language Grammar & Text Translation
1. Grammar Translation:
The method of teaching a language by intensive
study of its grammar and the application of that
grammar to the translation of texts (Benson 2000)
2. Three big questions:
1)Why learner learn another language?
The Motives of the learners
2)what is the best way to do it?
The Means of learning
3)what counts as success?
The Measures of success
3. Three main questions:
Why learn another language or the motives of
learners:
1) Reading literature.
2)mental practice.
4. Whatis the best way to do it? The Means
First: the Grammar is taught Deductively in the
students’ native language
Then, a Vocabulary list with their translation
equivalents is provided which expected to be
learnt by heart.
Finally, copious translation examples based on
the words and construction which have already
been learnt is presented.
5. What counts as success?
The Measures of Success
Once a student has acquire the sufficient
ability to translate out of or from the target
language, he can be considered
successful language learner.
6. What is the role of teacher and students?
The role of the teacher:
1)to ensure the comprehension of new rules
2)to supply the students with the correct answer
The role of the students:
The students, for the greater part of time, are
passive. They just do what the teacher ask them
to.
7. How is the language perceived?
According to the language pedagogics of that time
language comprises of only two elements :Grammar
and Vocabulary.
They also emphasized the superiority on literary
language over spoken one so in their view the only
skilled to be mastered are Reading and Writing.
8. The main criticisms levelled at GTM:
Accuracy / Fluency
GTM is opened to question because of its blind
emphasis on Accuracy, that is the usage of
language rather than Fluency, that is the
effective use of language.
Another criticisms which raised against GTM is its
use of Decontextualized, invented sentences in
its examples rather than the application of
connected, authentic texts.
9. The merits of GTM:
Although these criticisms are valid, it does not
mean that GTM is devoid of any merits.
In its favor, we can say that GTM develop
grammatical accuracy, and written translation
exercises.
