5 English Teaching Methods That Work
BY C. PARIS
There are several methods of
teaching English to students who are learning the language for the first time,
each with their own unique pros and cons. Depending on the teaching situation,
setting, and resources available, any one of these English teaching methods
could be right for you and your students.
In this guide, we’ll go over the basics of each method
and determine what kind of English language student it would work best on. If
you or someone you know are trying to learn English for the first time, or
improve a current English speaking skill level, check out this elementary
English language course for starters.
1. Grammatical Approach
A focus on grammar rules is one of the most popular
English teaching methods in traditional academic settings, perhaps due to the
focus on grammar in native language courses. Teaching English as a second
language, according to this approach, should not stray from the model.
This approach can only work if the instructor speaks
the first language of the students in addition to English, because much of it
is based on the teacher’s ability to translate. English grammar rules should be
taught conceptually in the student’s native language, with examples provided in
simple English sentences that the teacher can translate back to the native
tongue so that a solid parallel can be drawn. These grammar rules should be
strictly enforced, and students should be allowed to practice proper structure
and syntax through the use of examples and quizzes.
Also important to this method is vocabulary, as
students need a large knowledge bank of English words in order to interpret and
form their own English grammar examples. Grammar and vocabulary quizzes fuel
this approach, and should be at the forefront of instruction. The English
language is examined in terms of grammar rules. Get a firm grasp on this side
of the English language with this advanced English grammar course.
Who is this best for?
This approach is best for students who natively speak
a language with a dramatically different set of grammar rules from English. The
instructor must have a strong grasp of the English language themselves, and the
grammar rules of their classroom’s native tongue, meaning it’s best if all
students are coming at English from the same first language.
2. Aural Approach
The aural English teaching method focuses on the most
natural way to learn a language, which is by hearing it. Children who are
raised to speak English learn it first by hearing it from their parents and
others around them, long before they ever learn how to read or write. The aural
approach is similar, meaning it’s strictly audio-based and should not focus on
the reading or writing until long after the students can grasp the language on
a speaking level.
The actual method involves dialogue. In the beginning,
the students will mostly be spoken to. The teacher might use visual cues such
as objects to give the students something to associate the words they’re
hearing with. Then, they will be instructed to speak the words themselves,
coming to grasp vocabulary and basic grammar through hearing and speaking,
rather than advanced instruction or writing. Teachers should not write the
words they’re saying, and let the bulk of the instruction exist in dialogue.
For note taking purposes, students should be allowed
to write words they’ve learned phonetically, in their native language, if
applicable. Check out this course on hearing, speaking, and pronouncing English
properly for tips on teaching these elements of the language.
Who is this best for?
The aural English teaching method is an approach best
used for younger students, as it most closely relates to the way they’ve been
used to learning language. It’s also great for students whose first language is
of a writing system dissimilar to English, such as Mandarin or Arabic.
This way, the students can focus on learning the
language in its purest, aural form, rather than be distracted and possibly
confused by learning the written word as well. That segment of the instruction
can come once the students have a firm grasp on the spoken language. Proper
pronunciation is a huge part of this method.
3. English-Only Approach
The English only method is one of the most direct
approaches to teaching the language. For this method, neither the teacher nor
the student should speak their native tongue at all during instruction. All
instruction should be done in English only.
Vocabulary should be taught first, as it is the
easiest to grasp because it can be demonstrated with a visual aid. As the
student builds vocabulary, the instructor can begin introducing abstract words
and elements of the language, but without explaining or focusing on the actual
grammatical structure. The complexities of the language will be learned
inherently, with the student picking up on its patterns through practice and
application only.
At the end of each class period, there can be an
optional question and answer session where students are allowed to ask the
teacher about that day’s lesson. Here, clarifications may be made and confusion
may be cleared up, but again, this is entirely optional. Sometimes, the best
way to learn the language through this method is to just tough it out and let
it come naturally.
Who is this best for?
This method works best for situations where the
instructor does not speak the native language of the students they’re
instructing. (Of course, this would make the optional question answer sessions
an impossibility.) It is also an ideal method for situations where there is a
diverse set of students who don’t share the same native language, all trying to
learn English. This way, the barriers and constraints brought in by an
inability to communicate natively can be dismissed, and a stronger focus on the
language at hand can be made.
4. Translative Approach
The translative approach is a bit like the grammatical
approach, only with a broader focus on the English language’s structure in
comparison to the native language of the students. This approach must be taught
by an instructor who speaks the same language as their students, and all the
students must also share a fluency in the same language.
English will be taught as a subject like any other,
with different elements of the language such as vocabulary, grammar, syntax,
speaking, reading, and writing focused on every day. This method will make
strong use of notecards, where students can write English vocabulary and
grammar concepts on one side, and then translate the word or idea on the back
in their native language.
Quizzes and exams should be given, first asking
questions in the native language of the students, and eventually moving into
English-only in the later duration of the course. Lecturing will be the primary
method of instruction during the class, with student questions allowed and
encouraged.
Who is this best for?
This method is best for students learning the English
language because of an academic interest in it as a language, and not just an
interest or need to know how to speak it. Speaking, reading, and writing the
language will be given equal priority, and grammar rules and concepts will not
be avoided for a more “natural” approach. It will be taught academically, as
any other subject, and is best for students who are interested in this kind of
rigorous approach.
5. Immersive Approach
The immersive approach is one of the best ways to
learn the language for older students who are able to travel for their
education. Someone who wants to learn English doesn’t even need to be enrolled
in an English language course to use this method – all they need are the
resources involved in travel.
For students wanting to learn British English, a trip
to the United Kingdom is recommended. For students wanting to learn American
English, a trip to the United States is recommended. If the student wants an
academic-heavy approach, there are foreign exchange programs they can enroll in
through colleges, or other academic programs that allow prolonged travel.
Again, an academic program is not required for this
method. Staying in a new country and learning the language through pure
immersion and necessity is one of the best ways to learn it quickly. Students
will be surrounded by media in that language, and people who speak that
language. It is a great way to break off from the distractions of your native
tongue, and learn how to think in the English language as well as speak it.
Who is this best for?
Teachers and students who are able to travel and stay
in another country long enough to develop a strong grasp on the English
language.
Filed Under: For
Students, Languages
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