Second Language Acquisition in the Classroom: Methods and Approaches

Posted on Apr 29, 2024 in Teaching & Education

1. Establishing a Strong Foundation

The traditional approach in Foreign Language Teaching (FLT) emphasizes accuracy from the outset. Two prominent structure-based methods include:

1) Grammar-Translation Method (19th to 1940s)

  • Goal: Reading comprehension of literary texts.
  • Origin: Teaching classical languages like Greek and Latin.
  • Content:
    1. Deductive grammar instruction (memorizing rules).
    2. Vocabulary lists with L1 translations.
  • L1 Role: Reference system and classroom communication.
  • Activities: Translation, comprehension questions, grammar explanations, decontextualized exercises.
  • Skills: Reading and writing.
  • Roles: Teacher-centered, focus on accuracy.
  • Drawback: Limited communicative ability.

2) Audio-Lingual Method

  • Reaction to GTM: Focus on spoken language and habit formation.
  • Origin: USA, World War II era (1960s).
  • Goal: Fluency in spoken language.
  • Linguistic Theory: Structuralism.
  • Psychological Theory: Behaviorism (stimulus-response-reinforcement).
  • Content:
    1. Inductive grammar learning.
    2. Pronunciation practice.
    3. Contextualized vocabulary.
  • Skills: Listening and speaking, following the ‘natural order’.
  • L1 Role: None, only TL used.
  • Error Correction: Immediate to prevent bad habits.
  • Techniques: Dialogues, drills (repetition, build-up, transformation, substitution).
  • Roles: Teacher as model and corrector, learners as imitators.
  • Drawback: Limited fluency development.

2. The Role of Listening and Reading

Language acquisition can occur through exposure to comprehensible input, primarily via listening and reading (receptive skills). This aligns with Krashen’s (1985) input hypothesis and the concept of i+1 (acquiring language slightly beyond current competence).

However, this approach is controversial as it suggests that language production is not necessary for learning. While beneficial for initial stages or as a supplement, comprehensible input alone is insufficient for developing communicative competence.

3. Fostering Communication

The Communicative Approach combines comprehensible input with conversational interaction to achieve communicative competence, encompassing:

  1. Linguistic Competence: Knowledge of the language system.
  2. Pragmatic Competence: Appropriate language use in social contexts.
  3. Strategic Competence: Employing communication strategies.
  4. Psychomotor Competence: Producing and perceiving sounds.

This approach emphasizes meaningful communication and interaction, enabling learners to use the language effectively in real-world situations.