Grammar translation

method (GTM)
Loubna Oussaid
Cpr Marrakech
2010/2011

Plan

Introduction
Historical background
Objectives
The characteristics of the GTM
Interaction
Students / teachers roles
Students native language
The emphasized skills of language
Materials and techniques
Conclusion:advantages and disadvantages of GTM
References

Introduction
Nowadays, it is well known that English is
the most widely studied foreign language in
all over the world. Five hundreds years ago
it was Latin. It was the dominant language
of education ,commerce ,religion and
government in the Western world .Because
of some political changes in Europe it was
gradually replaced by other languages .

Historical background
In the eighteenth century the modern languages entered
the curriculum of European schools. They were taught in
the same way that was used for teaching Latin.
Textbooks consisted of statements of abstract
grammar rules ,lists of vocabulary and sentences for
translation .
Speaking the foreign language was not the goal, what
was important is the grammatical system of a language.
This approach to foreign language teaching became
known as the grammar translation method. It was also
called the classical method since it was first used in
teaching classical languages mainly: Latin and Greek.

Objectives
In GTM the objectives of studying a foreign
language are:
Read its literature
Benefit from the intellectual development
and mental discipline
Study grammar rules to use them in
translation
Master the sentence structure

The characteristics of
GTM
The principle characteristics of GTM are:
Learn a foreign language to read its literature
Approach a language through a detailed analysis
of its grammar rules
Learn the foreign language grammar to be familiar
with the native language grammar then to be
better in reading and writing it
The emphasis is on reading and writing

 Vocabulary are taught through bilingual word list and

grammar rules are presented and practiced
The sentence is the basic unit of teaching and
language practice
Accuracy is emphasized to attain high standards in
translation to be able to pass the formal written
exams
Grammar is taught deductively by presenting a
studying grammar rules that are practiced through
translation exercises
The native language is the medium of instruction of
the new items to enable comparison between native
language and target language

Interaction
The dominant kind of interaction is:
Teacher-students since the teacher all
the time asks questions ,gives
instructions and gets students
answers without any discussion

Teachers roles

Teacher-centred class
He is the master
Gives instructions
Asks questions
Corrects mistakes

Students roles

Passive learners
Receive things
Memorize
Read and write and ask questions from
time to time if they are allowed

The use of students

native language
The teacher explains and gives
instructions in students s native
language but it is not effective
because there will happen an
interference of structures of both
languages

The emphasized skills

Grammar:
Is taught deductively because grammar
rules are highlighted and explained then
practiced in some exercices
The method stresses on four skills or
language components mainly:
Reading ,writing ,grammar and vocabulary

Materials and
techniques
o The only material that the teacher uses is
the text book
o The teacher uses some techniques and
activities in teaching as:
- Asking and answering
- Translation
- Memorization
- Practicing grammar rules through
exercises

Conclusion

Advantages of GTM
Useful for academic learning
Develop reading and writing skills
Know the literature of the target
language
Mastering sentence structure
Works with large classes

Disadvantages of GTM
Students translate but do not produce
Little contextualization of grammar for
real communication
Error correction
Focus on accuracy not fluency
Neglects the listening and speaking skills

References
Approaches and Methods in Language
teaching by Richards and Rodgers
Teaching by Principles by Douglas
Brown