How far is teaching Traditional Grammar acceptable in modern teaching of a language?

Can the use of the Communicative Language Teaching Approach be successful in Teacher Centred contexts?

• Communicative Language Teaching Approach vs Grammar Translation Method

• Answer:

  I am an ESL/EFL/TESL teacher with over 20 years experience. I have taught teachers how to teach ESL to adults and children. I think it can be done but it would require a fair bit of preparation. For example, instead of having the students doing straight translation, divide your students into pairs, post the paragraph(s)either just outside the class or in front behind your desk. Make sure you have one for each team or 1 for 2-3 teams if you have a large class so there won't be a traffic jam. Then have one member become the runner and one is the scribe. The runner runs up and reads a sentence and then dictates it to his/her partner. When all the teams have finished 1/2 the paragraph, get them to translate it together. The first team to get it right gets a little prize. After this, change members and the scribe becomes the runner and vice-a-versa. Repeat the procedure. This way all 4 skills are being used Listening/Speaking, Reading/Writing. The students are having fun, and lots of practice in a great environment. Anytime you take a boring task and make a game out of it, it becomes communicative. The teacher is still in control of the class and the teacher is monitoring. Teacher centered does not mean that the teacher talks all the time, it just means that he/she guides the students in a precise activity with a concise outcome. Take a look at any GTM activity and try to work all 4 skills or as many as you can into it and, voila, you have transformed it into a communicative activity. Try it and the students will enjoy your lessons that much more. Good Luck