The Grammar Translation Method

It was formerly known in classical languages teaching as the classical methods ages before. In this time, it is not limited only to classical languages but teaching in foreign language literature for students to be able to indulge appreciation when reading the literature themselves. The study using this methods not only for better understanding in writing and speaking of the target language (language students try to learn) but also influence students to go deeper and familiarize context of grammar of their own native language. It’s a method for improving and polishing students native and target language throughout their learning process. Even though students may not use the target language in their real life situation, it will still gives advantages such as cognitive learning exercises and making students more critical and intellectual in handling language learning.

There are sets of principals followed such as the objective of applying this method which I have explained above. Next the duty of the teacher and students are more into teacher centered classroom because teacher acts as the expert of target language thus obviously they hold the utmost authority while students more into absorbing sponge in the process. The processes of learning are by memorizing and deductive reasoning because students will be taught of some examples of grammar rules and using that knowledge in applying to other examples in language learning.  Moreover, they learn to translate the native language to target language directly such as vocabulary transfer. Students interaction and initiation to speak by nature is limited as more room given to teacher to students interaction. Here, the target language portray as more superior in comparison to spoken language, while culture influences reflecting the mirror of fine arts and consisting literature. In this method, it is by far for better for teaching vocabulary and grammar along with the primary skills of reading and writing.

 In assessing students learning and comprehension, evaluation will be done by writing tests and questioning of grammar and culture of the target language. Errors in language need to be remand quickly by guiding students to the correct answers or giving it to them directly. All this is to avoid consumptions of misunderstanding. Based on my experiences, learning languages such as Japanese, Korean and Mandarin using this approach matches well with my learning styles. I tend to learn better by memorizing and direct translation from one language to another maybe because that is how I have been trained to learn. I recall Asians people traditionally molded to learn using these kinds of learning styles and perhaps that is also part of the reason why this method fits in the learning of the target language. However, with due respects I believe that communication with the teacher and peers plays huge roles in facilitating one’s learning better in not only understand by in applying to the real life context.

In reality, you can maximize your language learning by daily practice in conversation you’re your friends because then you becomes more curious and motivated to really understand the cultural and knowledge aspects of the language itself. In learning language, what is the use of only able to cognitively understand the language without effectively using it in real life purposes of communication? Therefore, I am curiously questions, why do you have the need to study other language if you are not applying it to your real life? Is it just because of the requirement, why people did not consider of applying the languages they learn into practical use? Thank you J.