Total Physical Response (TPR) is a language teaching method that focuses on listening comprehension over speaking. It is based on the idea that listening precedes speaking in first language acquisition. Using TPR, instructors give students commands that require physical actions to associate words and meanings. Students observe and then imitate the actions. The goal is to create a low-anxiety environment where students can learn through enjoyable physical activities before speaking is introduced.

1. Total Physical Response

2. Introduction
● Total Physical Response is an example of
“Comprehension Approach”.
● The importance is given to Listening
Comprehension.
● The idea of Comprehension Approach
comes from child language acquisition.
Speaking is a natural product of listening.

3. Principles
● Learning a foreign language is similar to the
first language acquisition.
● Listening before speaking
● Enjoyable, low-anxiety environment
● Students first observe and then perform the
actions.

4. Principles
● Meaning is more important than form.
● Meaning through actions, especially by using
commands.
● Feelings of success and low anxiety facilitate
learning.

5. Principles
● Spoken language should be emphasized
over written language.
● Errors are tolerated (indirectly corrected)
● No grammar explanation

6. Techniques
● Using commands to direct behavior
● Role reversal
● Actions sequence

7. Questions for discussion
● Should a teacher overlook certain student
errors in the beginning?
● Do you think students should not be
encouraged to speak until they are ready to
do so?
● Do you think that accompanying language
with action aids recall?
● Describe (if any) your experiences in the
TPR activities/classrooms?