Methods of foreign language teaching: direct, communicative

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often desperate to learn a foreign language, recalling his school experience, lured by promises of quickly learned the language with the help of the newest method.It often does not distinguish between what is a method of learning a foreign language, and that - private methods.Many can be heard playing on the method, various authors programs.We will review the currently existing methods and techniques of learning a foreign language and emphasize their advantages to address those or other problems.

1. The traditional grammar-translation and modern lexical and grammatical method

This traditional approach to learning in its purest form used in schools and universities until the mid 20th century and longer.Education was based on a solid foundation of grammar and memorizing vocabulary (in our country - the ideologically correct vocabulary and of little real communication).The main skill mastered by those who managed to keep the interest in the language and did not give up at the beginning of a difficult and long road - a reading and translation of texts, often - a highly specialized focus.

Despite the shortcomings of this method - low motivation of students, the formation of a language barrier, inability to communicate in real situations - it has its advantages.First of all - this is a solid knowledge of grammar.This method is suitable for students with analytical thinking, which is a big plus structuring of the material and the presence of a logical explanation for the phenomenon, but not all clear charts and tables in this case are the good aid.

After decades during which the traditional methods of learning a foreign language were subjected to thorough criticism, it was time to awareness of its benefits.And today, in its advanced form, this method is known as lexical and grammatical.Attention is paid to all four language skills, that is not only reading and writing, but speaking and listening.It has been successfully used by teachers 'old school' and allows you to demonstrate the similarities and differences between native and studied languages.

2. communicative method

It is fundamentally opposed to the above.As the name implies, it is designed to teach communicate.It requires the most natural learning environment and a real need in the interaction.Communicative method involves communication teacher and student in the target language, grammar explanation is minimized.It is assumed that it must be assimilated intuitively.Errors in speech as possible, can not be fixed unless they impede understanding.The implementation of this method started with the 1970 with the filing of both foreign and domestic authors.It has allowed many to get rid of the language barrier and learn to understand the language and speak it much faster.Of particular interest is awaken and modern, colorful guidebook with relevant content.Particularly good results achieved pupils of primary school age who have sufficient motivation when learning a language is really going on "natural" way.Today, the communicative method is recognized as the most effective group training and is suitable for most language learners.However, it requires a high level of teacher training.It is a lack of skills and understanding of the basics of this method is related his criticism, the essence of which is to ensure that the student does not learn to speak correctly and does not own grammar.This is not entirely true, because a lot depends on the period of study, and of the efforts made by the student.

techniques, forms and techniques

Most educational institutions in advertising you can hear that in the classroom using the latest methods of teaching a foreign language.Rather, we are talking about different forms of instruction (immersion method, audiolingvalny etc.).Here, the word "method" should be understood not as a fundamental approach, but as a way of presenting knowledge.In particular, many people say that using interactive methods of teaching a foreign language.Here we are talking about is certainly useful online resource, which is rather an aid, rather than methods.A popular form of training and when communicating with the teacher occurs, for example, via Skype.

In summary, we can say that today it became clear that the methods of learning a foreign language chosen on the basis of the objectives and characteristics of the group or a particular student.It should be distinguished from the forms and methods of learning and to understand that none of the methods will not allow you to learn the language for 2 months without making their own efforts.