The eclectic approach to language teaching combines various methods and techniques depending on the goals of the lesson and abilities of the students. It allows teachers flexibility to choose the best elements from different approaches, such as grammar translation, direct method, situational language teaching, and audio-lingual. By borrowing from multiple methods, the eclectic approach breaks up the monotony of the classroom and caters to different learning styles.

2. Eclectic approach is a method of language
learning/teaching that combines various
approaches and methodologies to teach
language depending on the aims of the lesson
and the abilities of the learners. In this approach
teacher has more flexibility & adaptability to
choose best elements according to the need &
aim of the students. Different teaching methods
are borrowed and adapted to suit the
requirement of the learners. It breaks the
monotony of the class.
There are varied approaches and methods used
for language teaching.

3. In eclectic approach, the teacher can choose
from these different methods and approaches:

4. Grammar Translation Method
Direct Method
Structural Situational Approach
Audio-lingual/Audio visual Method
Bilingual Method
Communicative Language Teaching
Total Physical Response
The Silent Way

5. Grammar-translation Method: It is a method of
teaching languages by which students learn
grammatical rules and then apply those rules by
translating between the target language and the
native language.
Direct Method: In this method the teacher
refrains from using the students' native
language. The target language is directly used
for teaching all the four skills—listening,
speaking, reading and writing.

6. Structural-situational Approach: In this
approach, the teacher teaches language through
a careful selection, gradation and presentation of
vocabulary items and structures through
situation based activities.[
Audio-lingual/Audio-visual Method: In this style
of teaching students are taught through a
system of reinforcement. Here new words and
grammar are directly taught without using the
students' native language. However, unlike direct
method, audio-lingual method does not focus
on vocabulary. Instead, the teacher focuses on
grammar through drill and practice.

7. Bilingual Method: The word 'bilingual' means two
languages. In bilingual method, the teacher
teaches the language by giving mother tongue
equivalents of the words or sentences. This
method was developed by C.J. Dodson.
Communicative Language Teaching: This
approach lays emphasis on oral method of
teaching. It aims to develop communicative
competence in students.
Total Physical Response: It is based on the
theory that memory is enhanced through
association with physical response.[

8. The Silent Way: In this method the teacher uses a
combination of silence and gestures to focus
students' attention. It was developed by Caleb
Gattegno.
Muhammad Ali Soomro
M.A English Linguistics 2017
Shah Abdul Latif University
Khairpur Mir’s Sindh (Pakistan)
Cell: +923342598056