Introduction to Methods & Approaches

• Approach is a very broad term that refers to something that is based on theory or research.

• Method refers to a set of procedures or a system of how to teach a language.

• Technique is a very specific term that refers to a classroom device or activity.

The field of language teaching has experienced many fads and fashions in how to best approach students and the language lesson. While each method and approach has some merit, it is most important that the aims or goals of the lesson-and the approach or method that is employed- match. As you will note after your readings, the Grammar Translation Method (GTM) has been typically employed when reading or writing is the focus. Therefore, to teach a speaking class using only the GTM would be a complete mismatch of method vs. aim, and the class would not be successful or effective.

Effective language teachers are aware of existing methods, approaches, and techniques, and they know how to successfully combine their strengths so that the elements of each match up with the lesson’s goals. An informed teacher is a teacher who has options. Awareness of options means that a teacher has a choice, and having a choice means you can pick from a variety of options to offer what is best for your students and their learning situation.

The methods and approaches presented in the following pages will be addressed again in the In-Class Training session. During this time we will specifically concentrate on how to draw on the strengths of each method and approach to best create an effective lesson for all levels of classes: beginning, intermediate, and advanced. We also will focus on how to combine these strengths in a language lesson, so that the teacher is ‘adapting, not adopting’, thus creating a successful learning environment.