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The use of grammar translation method in teaching English
The grammar Translation Method indeed suffers from several defects. It is considered a very poor method of teaching English. But even then we cannot banish it from our programme of teaching English to Indian students. It is a convenient teaching method for the teacher and a convenient learning method for the students.
We should not ban using translation methods for teaching English to Indian students. But there are many drawbacks to the exclusive use of this method. It has no place for training and practice in speech. The pupil never gets an opportunity to express his thoughts in English.
This method makes excessive use of the mother tongue. Too much use of the mother tongue retards progress in the learning of a foreign language. In this method, the students think, imagine and understand everything in the mother tongue. According to Jespersen, “The translation swallowed up so much that there is none left for learning the foreign language. “Too much stress is laid in this method on the rule of grammar. Hence, it is also called ‘Grammar Method or Grammatical Method. But the grammatical plan does not suit young learners. It is a theoretical and logical method which is quite unsuitable for young students, who are in the early stage of learning English.
The demerits of the translation method can be made, up by limiting the use of mother tongue to comprehension of the meaning of difficult words of English and by providing the student sufficient practice in the use of English words and phrases through speaking English combined with motions and Sentences by the students, It means that the English teacher can teach beat by combining translation method of teaching “English with Direct Method of Teaching Language.
