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COMMUNICATIVE APPROACHES.
• Introduction:
FLT → Intense evolution over the years.
- Influence of Linguistics, Psychology and philosophy.
- Difference between:
1. Approach (Theory).
2. Method (Procedure).
3. Technique (Classroom device).
• Evolution of laguage teaching:
Beforw 20th c. → No scientific methods.
- Beginning of 20th c. → Behaviourism → Structuralism.
- Mid 20th c. → Humanistic Psychology → Sociolinguistics and pragmatics.
→ Communicative approach. (Eclectic character). Assimilates the new trends and adapts
itself to new ways of understanding learning and to the new resorces.
Communicative
• Pre - 19th c. Trends:
- 2 trends: - Using a language.
- Analizing a language.
- Classical and medieval teaching – Greek or Latin (Higher education, religion, politics,
business...)
- Renaissance.- Formal study of grammar of Greek and Latin. → difrference between
classical Latin and Vulgate Latin.
→ Emergence of vernaculars → Emphasis on utility rather than analysis. (17th c.) (Jan
Comenius)
→ 1st Inductive approach.
• First modern approaches:
- Final 19th and early 20th c. → Spread of methods.
1. Grammar Translation Method (approach)
- Taught in native langauge.
- Little use of target language.
- Focus on grammar.
- Reading and translating.
→ Some of these techniques are still used today: fill – in blanks; translations, scanning...
2. The Direct Method. (Approach)
Was a reaction to the grammar – translation method. (Reform movement: end of 19th c.)
- No mother tongue permitted.
- Lessons start with dialogues.
- Pictures and actions, but not translations.
- Inductive grammar.
- Literature = Leisure.
- Native (or proficient) teacher.
3. The Reading Approach. → Reaction to Direct method.
- Reading → Most useful skill.
- Grammar → From reading text.
- Vocabulary → Based on frequency.
- Translation = Important.
- Reading Comprehension → “The skill”.
- No oral proficiency.
• Scientifically – based Approaches:
Beginning of 20th c → Behaviourism Structuralism
Situational Approach.
Audio – Lingual Approach.
1. Situational Approach: Reaction to the Reading Method.
- Emphasis on Oral / Aural skills.
2. The audio – lingual Method.
- Aural – Oral approach → Inductive.