1 EVOLUTION OF LANGUAGE TEACHING. PRESENT DAY TRENDS IN TEFL.

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.
Psychology

Approaches / Methods

Linguistics

Pre-scientific. (Deductive /
Inductive) Oral, GrammarTranslation, Direct, Reading.

Classical grammars.

Behaviourism.

Situational / Audio-lingual

Structuralism.

Cognitivism.

Functional Notional Sillabus. Functionalism.

The silaent way.

Influence of Social Studies. Affective Humanistic.

Desuggestopedia, The CLL
Humanistic Psychology.
Comprehension based
(Notional approach TPR)

Socio linguistics.
Pragmatics.

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.
Later rejected by cognitivism mid 20th c. (Chomsky Linguistic Competence).
+ Influence of Social factors (Humanistic factors).
The Cognitive Approach in ELT:
- Language must not be considered a product of habit formation but rather of RULE formation.
(Chomsky).
- Rule acquisition.
- Grammar can be taught inductively or deductively.
1. The Silent way:
- Active process of learning (student)
- Silent teacher (Tutor)
Affective Humanistic Approach.
- Affective considerations influenced by Humanistic psychology Importance of the social
aspect of FLT.
Community Language Learning: Desuggestopedia. (Originally Suggestopedia).
Comprehension Based Approach.
- Natural Approach. (Analogy target language mother tongue.
- TPR.
Communicative Approach. (Hymes)
- Students produce Notions and Language Functions. Eclectic.
Present day trends in TEFL.
- Procedural Approaches.
Early stages of Communicative Approach = Product Approaches.
More Recent trends Procedural approaches.
1. Task based models

2. Process Models :

Communicating.
Learning.
Classroom Social Activity.

Content Based LT
(Bilingual Teaching)

Computer assisted language learning.

- Multimedia technology can be analysed from the structuralist, cognitivist or
communicative point of view.
Balance between the evolution of technology and teaching learning computer options.
The use of the internet in FLT.
- With sociocognitive (humanistic) approaches to CALL we move from learner's interaction
with computers to learner's interaction with other humans VIA the computer.
Network based language Teaching: Able to communicate with native speakers (importance of
written skill)
we have to be aware of the potential risk of these techniques.
Communicative Approach.
- Principles.- Communicating using the target language.
- Structure and vocabulary are important. must be applied.
Language function + Interaction.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Reviewing Techniques and materials.

Authentic materials.
Scrambled sentences.
Language games.
Picture strip stories.
Role plays.
TPR.

Conclusion.
Evolution = Our position Privileged Eclectic.
Didactic projection.