The Grammar Translation Method is an old approach to language teaching that focuses on reading and writing skills rather than communication. It involves explaining grammar rules and having students translate texts between the native and target languages. There is little use of the target language. Teachers dominate lessons, which emphasize memorizing isolated vocabulary words and complex grammar rules. Students play a passive role, and speaking abilities are not developed. The goal is accurate translation rather than communicative competence.

1. Grammar Translation
Method(GTM)
 Very old method of teaching a language.
 Aim is to read and understand to text written in
foreign language.
 No communication skill
 In Sri Lanka use this method to teach Pali to Sinhla
speaking children.
 Originated in German
 Popular among teachers due to lack of specialized
requirements

2. Scholars’ arguments
 Not improve communication skills
 Tedious memorizing of unusable grammar rules and
vocabularies.
 Attempting perfect translation.
 No theory behind this method.
 Develop only reading ability of a second language.

3. The principle characteristics
 Use mother tongue / little target language.
 Vocabularies are taught through isolated word lists.
 Long elaborate explanation of the intricacies* of grammar
are given.
 Grammar provide rules for putting word together and
instructions often focus on the form and inflexion* of
words.
 Reading classical texts/ no attention for content(exercise in
grammatical analysis)
 No attention for pronunciation.
 * the quality of being intricate
 * a change in the form of a word (typically the ending) to express a grammatical function or
attribute such as tense, mood, person, number, case, and gender.

4. Views of language and learing.
 Language is a system of riles to be related to the rules
of the first language (L1)
 Best to learn rules of grammar
 Application to arrange of examples
 Memorization of grammar paradigms
 Vocabulary list
 Translation

5. Role of the teacher
 Very traditional
 Teacher –centered teaching
 Dominate the class
 Control the class(has authority)
 Model for the whole class

6. Role of the students
 Passive listeners
 Depend on the teacher
 Answer only teacher's Questions
 Participation is very law(not active)
 Follow teacher's instructions act accordingly

7. Characteristic of teaching learning
process
 Grammar rules are taught deductively(rote learning)
 Singular noun is
 Plural noun are
 Grammar is taught in isolation (separate)
 Vocabulary is taught through isolated word list
 Grammatical rules are to ne memorized
 Speaking and listening are not emphasize
 Exam oriented
 Translation – MT to TL and TL to MT

8. Techniques
 Loud reading
 Translation of text and sentences
 Questioning and answering
 Memorization of grammar rules
 Dictation
 Teaching synonyms and antonyms
 Paragraph writing
 Writing composition
 Story building
 Areas of language – Grammar , vocabulary
 Skills emphasis – reading and writing

9. Role of the mother tongue
 Class room language is MT
 Used to explain grammar rules
 MT is the medium of instruction
 Translation MT to TL and TL to MT
 Use of MT is very important
 TL is learnt by reference to the first language(L1)

10. Handling errors
 Exam oriented ( accuracy is emphasize)
 Rigid error correction
 Teacher correct the errors / other students correct
them
 Low tolerance of errors in grammar classroom
 Learners must try to get correct answer if they fail
teacher provide the answer.

11. Evaluation
 Test – translation and filling the blank exercises
 Grammar rules are tested trough written exercises
 Composition are also used as test item