This document summarizes several historical approaches to language teaching: - The Grammar-Translation Approach focused on grammar rules and translating texts but used little of the target language. - The Direct Method used only the target language and taught grammar inductively through examples. - The Reform Movement emphasized teaching the spoken language first using phonetic principles. More recent approaches include the Cognitive Approach treating language learning as rule-based thinking, the Affective-Humanistic Approach focusing on self-realization and relationships, the Comprehension Approach prioritizing meaningful input comprehension, and the Communicative Approach emphasizing practical target language communication.

1. LANGUAGE TEACHING
APPROACHES
References:
Foundations of Methodology & Approaches and Methods in
Language Teaching
by Marianne Celce – Murcia by Jack C. Richards and

2. PRE – TWENTIETH
CENTURY LANGUAGE
TEACHING APPROACHES

3. THE GRAMMAR – TRANSLATION APPROACH
*KARL PLOETZ*
• instruction in the native language of the students
• little use of the target language for
communication
• focus on grammatical parsing
• early reading of difficult texts
• translate sentences from the target language into
the mother tongue (or vice versa)

4. THE DIRECT METHOD
*FRANCOIS GOUIN, 1880*
• use of the target language in the classroom
• no use of the mother tongue
• use of dialogues and anecdotes
• use of actions and pictures
• present grammar and culture inductively
• literary texts for pleasure

5. THE REFORM MOVEMENT
*HENRY SWEET, WILHELM VIËTOR, AND PAUL
PASSY, 1886*
• the spoken form of a language is primary and
should be taught first
• the findings of phonetics should be applied to
language teaching
• language teachers must have solid training in
phonetics

6. EARLY AND MID-
TWENTIETH-CENTURY
APPROACHES

7. THE READING APPROACH
• study of a foreign language by reading the target
language
• useful grammar is only taught
• translation is once more a respectable classroom
procedure
• reading comprehension
• the teacher does not need to have good oral

8. THE AUDIOLINGUAL APPROACH
• Behavioral psychology: learning is based on getting
learners to repeat behaviors until they become fully
learned habits (Skinner, 1957)
• lessons begin with dialogues
• mimicry and memorization
• grammar is taught inductively
• accurate pronunciation is stressed from the
beginning
• error – free

9. THE ORAL – SITUATIONAL APPROACH
•the spoken language is primary
•all language material is practiced orally
before being presented in written form
• target language – based classroom
• efforts are made to ensure that the most
general and useful lexical items are
presented

10. Lesson Pattern Vocabular
y
1 I am
hungry.
Thirsty,
poor,
alone
2 He is Prompt,

11. RECENT LANGUAGE
TEACHING
APPROACHES

12. Approach Principle
Cognitive
Approach
Language learning is rule-
governed cognitive behavior (not
habit formation).
Affective-
humanistic
approach
Learning a foreign language is a process of
self-realization and of relating to other
people.
Comprehension
approach
Language acquisition occurs if and only if
the learner receives and comprehends
sufficient meaningful input.
Communicative The purpose of language (and thus

13. THE COGNITIVE APPROACH
•Cognitive psychology and Chomskyan
linguistics
•Language learning as rule acquisition
•grammar is taught either inductively or
deductively
•Pronunciation is deemphasized
•Reading and writing = listening and speaking
•Errors are used for improvement

14. THE AFFECTIVE – HUMANISTIC
APPROACH
•RESPECT
•Meaningful communication
•Class atmosphere > materials and method
•Peer support
•Self- realization
•Teacher as counselor and facilitator

15. THE COMPREHENSION – BASED
APPROACH
•Listening comprehension
•Silent way
•Law of readiness
•Rule learning
•Error correction is unnecessary
•Appropriate audiovisual materials

16. THE COMMUNICATIVE APPROACH
•Communicating in the target language
•Semantic notions and social functions
•Academic or job – related material
•Role play/ dramatization
•Integrated skills

17. THANK YOU. 
PRESENTED BY:
MARIE BUENA SALAVERIA BUNSOY,
MALED