Teaching Methods
In teaching the faithful people to have different methods so that what is delivered can be captured properly by the learner. Here are some teaching methods and their strengths and weaknesses:
Audiolingual method
The Audiolingual Method is a method for foreign language teaching which emphasized the teaching of listening and speaking before reading and writing. This method is a combination of behavioural psychology and linguistics. In the Audiolingual Method, the students first hear a language. Later, they speak the language and after that, they read and write in it. Mother's tongue is discouraged in the classroom when this method is used. The Audiolingual Method does not learn lots of vocabulary. Rather, the teacher drills speaking and grammar because, in this method, grammar is most important for the student. In other word, the student must repeat the grammar pattern after the teacher.
a. Advantages
1) Listening and speaking skills are emphasized and, especially the former, rigorously developed.
2) students have little control over the material learned or learning methods.
3) The method is just as functional and easy to execute for larger groups.
4) Correct pronunciation and structure are emphasized and acquired.
5) It is a mechanical method since it demands pattern practice, drilling, and memorization patterns.
b. Disadvantages
1) only focus on speaking and listening skills.
2) The learner is in a passive role; the learner has little control over their learning
3) It does not pay sufficient attention to communicative competence.
4) Only language form is considered while meaning is neglected
5) Equal importance is not given to all four skills.
TPR (Total physical response)
is a language teaching method developed by James Asher, a professor emeritus of psychology at San José State University. It is based on the coordination of language and physical movement. In TPR, instructors give commands to students in the target language with body movements, and students respond with whole-body actions. The method is an example of the comprehension approach to language teaching. The listening and responding (with actions) serve two purposes: It is a means of quickly recognizing meaning in the language being learned, and a means of passively learning the structure of the language itself. Grammar is not taught explicitly but can be learned from the language input. TPR is a valuable way to learn vocabulary, especially idiomatic terms, e.g., phrasal verbs.
a. Advantages
1) It is a good tool for learning vocabulary
2) There is no age barrier
3) It is fun and easy
4) It does not require a great deal of preparation on the part of the teacher.
5) Class size does not need to be a problem.
b. Disadvantages
1) It is only suitable for beginner levels
2) it is not a very creative method. Students are not given the opportunity to express their own views and thoughts in a creative way
3) repetitive. This method is a fun way of changing the dynamics and pace of a lesson
4) It is limited since everything cannot be explained with this method. It must be combined with other approaches
5) It is not suitable for an adult learner.
PPP (Presentation, Practice and Production) method
PPP stands for Presentation, Practice and Production. It is referred to as a model, paradigm or approach to teaching language components. The procedure is straightforward. The teacher presents the target language. Then students are asked to practice it, first in well-controlled activities, then in freer activities. It is only later that the students are allowed to produce. The process starts with the input and ends with the output. What happens in between is practice.
a. Advantages
1) can help students understand and explain the material provided
2) gives them controlled practice
3) Easy to prepare
4) Easy for learners to follow this type of lesson
5) Easy for learners to remain focused
b. Disadvantages
1) students may be confused because of the many steps this method must take
2) It is a teacher-centred method and teacher talking time might be too long
3) Students may get bored and unwilling to participate
4) not suitable for all types of learning styles
5) It is more focused on accuracy than on fluency except in the very last stage
ESA (Engage, Study, and Activate) method
The stages of ESA are roughly equivalent to PPP, though ESA is slightly different in that it is designed to allow movement back and forth between the stages. However, each stage is similar to the PPP stages in the same order. Proponents of the ESA method stress its flexibility compared to PPP. The ESA method as defined by Jeremy Harmer, its primary advocate, uses more elicitation and stresses more “Engagement” of students in the early stages of the lesson. Both elicitation (drawing language from the students by use of questions, prompts and cueing) and Engagement are important in raising student motivation, but both tactics can just as easily, and should, be used in the Presentation stage of PPP
a. Advantages
1) can help students understand and explain the material provided
2) gives them controlled practice
3) Easy to prepare
4) Easy for learners to follow this type of lesson
5) Easy for learners to remain focused
b. Disadvantages
1) students may be confused because of the many steps this method must take
2) It is a teacher-centred method and teacher talking time might be too long
3) Students may get bored and unwilling to participate
4) not suitable for all types of learning styles
5) It is more focused on accuracy than on fluency except in the very last stage
Communicative method
A communicative method is an approach to language teaching that emphasizes interaction as both the means and the ultimate goal of the study. Language learners in environments utilizing Communicative techniques, learn and practice the target language through the interaction with one another and the instructor, the study of "authentic texts" (those written in the target language for purposes other than language learning), and through the use of the language both in class and outside of class. Learners converse about personal experiences with partners, and instructors teach topics outside of the realm of traditional grammar, in order to promote language skills in all types of situations. This method also claims to encourage learners to incorporate their personal experiences into their language learning environment, and to focus on the learning experience in addition to the learning of the target language.
a. Advantages
1) The communicative approach is much more pupil-orientated because it is based on pupils’ needs and interests.
2) The communicative approach seeks to personalise and localise language and adapt it to the interests of pupils. Meaningful language is always more easily retained by learners.
3) Seeks to use authentic resources. And that is more interesting and motivating for children.
4) Children acquire grammar rules as a necessity to speak so is more proficient and efficient.
5) The teacher-student relationship is an interactive, harmonious relationship.
b. Disadvantages
1) Often, there is no text.
2) grammar rules are not presented.
3) correction of errors may be absent or infrequent.
4) Students with low levels of proficiency in the target language may find it difficult to participate in oral communicative activities
5) students tend to be shy and have difficulty in communicating because they have not mastered well the grammar and vocabulary
