Total Physical Response (TPR) is a language teaching method developed by James Asher based on how children acquire their first language. It is based on the theory that memory and language acquisition are enhanced through physical movement and response. In TPR lessons, the instructor gives students commands in the imperative mood and students respond through physical actions without stress or speaking. The goal is to develop oral fluency through associating language with movement.

1. TOTAL
PHYSICAL
RESPONSE
JESSA I. CERBITO
Reporter

2. Developed by James Asher, a
Professor Emeritus of
Psychology at San José State
University the first public
institution of higher learning
in California, founded in 1857.
Developed the total physical
response method as a result
of his observation of the
language development of
young children.

3. TOTAL PHYSICAL RESPONSE (TPR)
Based on the theory that the memory is
enhanced through association with physical
movement.
It is based on the coordination of language
and physical movement.
The method is an example of the
comprehension approach to language
teaching.

4. T M
H A
R A
E I
E N
H
Y
P
O
T
H
E
S
E
S
The brain is naturally predisposed to learn
language through listening.
Effective language learning must engage
the right hemisphere of the brain.
Language learning should not involve any
stress, as stress and negative emotions
inhibit the natural language-learning
process.

5. P
R
I
N
C
I
P
L
E
S
Total physical response is an example of the
comprehension approach to language
teaching.
The ultimate goal of the method is to
develop oral fluency.
Total physical response is both a teaching
technique and a philosophy of language
teaching.

6. P
R
O
C
E
D
U
R
E
The majority of class time in
TPR lessons is spent doing drills in
which the instructor gives commands
using the imperative mood. Students
respond to these commands with
physical actions. Initially, students
learn the meaning of the commands
they hear by direct observation. After
they learn the meaning of the words
in these commands, the teacher issues
commands that use novel
combinations of the words
the students have learned.

7. ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 It is fun and easy.
 It does not require a
great deal of
preparation on the
part of the teacher.
 It is a good tool for
learning vocabulary.
 Class size does not
need to be a problem.
 There is no age
barrier.
 It is not a very creative
method. Students are not
given the opportunity to
express their own views
and thoughts in a creative
way.
 It is limited, since
everything cannot be
explained with this method.
It must be combined with
other approaches.

8. APPLICATION

9. ACTION STORY

10. SONG
TOES
KNEES
SHOULDER
HEAD

11. GAME
(Simon Says)

12. CHARADES

15. TOTAL PHYSICAL
RESPONSE
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