Grammar Translation Method vs. Direct Method

 THE GRAMMAR GRAMMAR TRANSLA TRANSLATION TION METHOD METHOD VS. THE DIRECT METHOD

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The first principle principle that we choose is The Grammar Translation Method . This method is derived from a method of teaching Latin and Greek which is also called as Classical Method; it is used to teach foreign languages. It is also a way to keep their native language lives. Basically its main  purpose is to help the students to read and understand literature written in target language. It also helps to develop students! mental e"ercise. #t the same time the translating part is where they are using their first language language to $e translated translated to the second language language and vice versa. They also use their  native language during lessons. That is how they liven up their %dead language!. In addition this method is only focused on the reading and writing.

The second principle principle that we choose choose is The Direct Method . This method is actually a response to Grammar Translation Method. This is another method of teaching foreign languages $ut it is way different than Grammar Translation Method. They are almost the opposite of each other. In this method there!s no use of mother tongue in class. This is $ecause the teacher wants the students to try speaking in second language. &ot to forget there!s no translation as well. It focuses more on speaking and listening on everyday voca$ularies. Therefore there are a lot of oral presentations spontaneous use of language and little grammar rules are involved. The purpose of the method is to ensure the students to make good pronunciation as little emphasi'e on their a$ility to write.

2.0 SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

Grammar Translation Metho

Both are used in teaching

SIMILARITIES

These methods emphasi'e on a$le to understand when the DIFFERENCES

It is focused on reading and writing The class is conducted in native language. The lesson is focused on Grammar  rules and application Literature and difficult te"t are the main teaching materials

Dire!t Metho

foreign languages knowing the language and $eing language is spoken It is focused on speaking and listening The class is conducted in foreign language Grammar is taught inductively (isual aids are used to teach voca$ularies

".0 STRENGT#S AND $EA%NESSES

STRENGT#S

$EA%NESSES

Grammar Translation Metho

Dire!t Metho

This method saves teacher!s time

This method is more fun and interesting

)tudents can understand easier   $ecause of the use of native language It made *nglish grammar easy  $ecause the students compare  $etween *nglish grammar with the grammar of their mother tongue )tudents tend to get the wrong idea of grammar $ecause they think in their mother tongue and translate the sentence directly in *nglish This method neglects speech The class is $oring $ecause the lessons are focused on teaching materials like literature and te"ts.  &o scope of creative writing

)tudents are more alert and  participate in activities more often )tudents will $e a$le to communicate in *nglish $ecause of the speaking practice This method doesn!t focus on reading and writing. This method is e"pensive as the teacher will need to use pro+ector  and linguaphone and so on It doesn!t work well in higher  classes only works for early stages Many a$stract words cannot $e interpreted directly in *nglish

&.0 IM'LEMENTATION

In Malaysia *nglish is the official second language that is compulsory to $e taught in schools and universities. ,e all are aware that *nglish is the world!s first language that connects everyone across the glo$e. *veryone is ought to learn this language in order to $e a$le to communicate with foreign  people or whenever they go travel. *nglish is somehow a serious language that everyone must learn in this country if they want to survive; ma+ority of +o$ applications college interviews and -ualifications want a candidate that knows *nglish. f course if it!s teaching matter/ Grammar Translation Method and 0irect Method are $eing used $y the teachers here.

Most of the teachers in our country use Grammar Translation Method widely during their lessons. If we talk a$out year 1 students 0irect Method is pro$a$ly not a good idea to $e used to teach them *nglish. This is $ecause they most pro$a$ly can!t speak *nglish nor understand the language. If  teachers tend to speak in *nglish during lesson they would pro$a$ly understand nothing. Most  parents don!t practice *nglish speaking at home; it would $e a challenge for teachers to teach students with no $asic of *nglish. ,ith Grammar Translation Method they can at least have the idea of what is the te"t they are learning a$out. They will learn new voca$ularies everyday $ut as mentioned a$ove not all the voca$ularies they learn can $e used in communicating. They could $e out of their level. They also will $e lack of pronunciation as they focus too much on reading and writing that the communication part is neglected.

n the other hand 0irect Method is only effective for communication. )ome teachers think that 0irect Method is a strict method as students will need to think in *nglish and speak its language. If  native language is mi"ed up in the lesson students will $ecome confused. They will do a lot of errors in pronunciation $ecause they are too tied with their mother tongue. That!s not good. But somehow communication is really important especially with the state of the surrounding these days. The voca$ularies in this method are the ones that can $e used in everyday conversation. Most people communicate in *nglish although they are from the same race. If you only know how to write $ut you can!t speak you!re still lack of a lot of things. This method trains students to have the confidence to communicate in *nglish as well as training them to pronounce words properly so people can understand them when they speak. It is rather fun than Grammar Translation Method that only refers to te"ts and literature. They will get $ored easily in class. )till it doesn!t mean that the students have to focus only on communicating reading and writing is important too.

(.0 'ERSONAL COMMENT ) CONCLUSION

(.1 'ERSONAL COMMENT

In our opinion $oth of these methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. 2owever Grammar Translation Method is the one that gives a huge effect on students. ,e think that the first thing that you need to learn is how to read and write $ecause the communication skills namely speaking and listening can $e enhanced later. If you know how to read and write you would surely know how to speak. The only thing that matters is confidence. ,ith great effort and many practices a student will $e a$le to master all four skills. )ometimes the classic method is the most effective one in teaching. The teacher +ust needs to $e wise in handling the disadvantages and weaknesses of the method they!re teaching $y replacing it with something else. They need to $e creative that!s all.

(.0 CONCLUSION

In the nutshell we still think that Grammar Translation Method is a great method to $e used $y teachers. #lthough it sounds $oring and lame it is somehow effective in teaching students the meaning of the sentences they are learning. They need to learn a lot of voca$ularies so that their  knowledge will $e wider and not +ust focused on the ones that they only use in their everyday lives. They need to $e familiar with new words. In terms of speaking and listening they can definitely learn it as it wouldn!t $e that hard to teach. 0irect Method is good as well don!t get us wrong. ,e do think  that it!s an effective method too. But in our opinion they really need to learn how to write and read first $efore speaking so they can arrange their sentences nicely later on when they communicate in *nglish. #s for the teachers they need to put their heart and soul in teaching so that it doesn!t go wrong.