Translation Grammar Method

Translation Grammar Method

This method emerged at the end of the 18th century and dominated the teaching of European and foreign languages, especially Latin and Greek, from the 1840s to the 1940s. Its main representative was Karl Plotz and his way of studying it was by approaching the L1 through an analysis of grammatical rules.

Characteristics

• Sentences or texts are translated from L1 into the target language or vice versa.

• Reading and writing is the main focus.

• Words for this method are taught through a bilingual word list.

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• It is an approach where the dictionary and memorization are very important.

• The precision and accuracy of the words is of utmost importance in this method.

Common activities

It is a method based only on reading and writing, so its most common activity is the translation of any type of text or sentence from one language to another. In this case from L1 to English.

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The role of the teacher

In the grammar-translation method, the teacher is the protagonist since he/she is the one who directs the students and corrects grammar mistakes. The children have no right to give their opinion.

Advantages

Disadvantages

• The classes are not interactive.
• The student cannot participate in any way
• The other two language skills are not reinforced.

• The relationship between teacher and student is poor.
• It is a method that brings frustration to the students.

• It emphasizes grammatical rules and structure.
• It helps the memorization of vocabulary.
• Encourages writing and reading in students.
• New vocabulary can be acquired.

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References

• Cervantes Virtual Center. (2022). Grammar translation method. cvc.cervantes. https://cvc.cervantes.es/ensenanza/biblioteca_ele/diccio_ele/diccionario/metodogramaticatrad.htm#:~:text=El%20m%C3%A9todo%20gram%C3%A1tica%2Dtraducci%C3%B3n%20basa,la%20propia%20y%20a%20la%20inversa.
• Richards, J., & Rodgers, T. (2001) A brief history of language teaching. In Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching (Cambridge Language Teaching Library, pp. 5-17). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi-org.bibliotecavirtual.unad.edu.co/10.1017/CBO9780511667305.003