Grammar Translation Method

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

·        Grammar is the rules in a language for changing the form of words and joining them into sentences.

·        Translation is the process of changing that is written or spoken into another language.

·        Method is a particular way of doing something.

·        Meidener (1783),who advocated translation into the target language through  the application of rules of grammar.

·        Karl Plotz (1819-1881) also improved the teaching method;his method was divided into two parts: (1) rules and paradigms, (2) sentences for translation into and out of the target language. His method also included rote learning of grammar rules, learning to put grammatical labels on words and learning to applay the rules by translating sentences, this away of teaching was finally called The Grammar Translation Method.

·         The Grammar Translation Method is not a new thing in language learning, which is only slightly different. In ancient times this method is called the "classical method" of the time used in the classical language learning, such as Latin and Greek. At the beginning of this century, this method is used to assist students in reading and understanding a foreign language literature. But it is also expected that it is in studying or understanding the grammar of the desired target language, students will become more familiar with the language rules in accordance with the source language and a deeper understanding of this will further help them in reading and writing according to the source language to be better.

·         According our group Grammar Translation Method is one of the method in language learning, this  method used to assit the students in reading and understanding a foreign language literature. It’s also expented that the students will become more familiar with the language rules in accordance with the source language.

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CHAPTER II

DISCUSSION

A.   Principles of Grammar Translation Method

A fundamental purpose  of teaching the target language through the Grammar Translation Method is to be able to read literature written in the target language. This purpose can be reached by learning about the grammar rules and vocabulary of the target language. It is also believed that studying a foreign language provides students with good mental exercise which helps develop students’ minds.

Principally, the Grammar Translation Method focuses on translating grammatical forms, memorizing vocabulary, learning rules, and studying conjuggations. Even though the method may be considered more as a technique rather a method, to follow anthony’s terms, in the sense that the method is not an overall plan of language teaching,the method also principles regarding to language teaching. The  principles of the Grammar Translation Method are these:

1.      Grammar rules are  presented and studied explicitly. Grammar is taugh deductively and then practiced through translation excercises.

2.      The primary skills to be developed are reading and writing.

3.      Hardly any attentionis paid to speaking and listening skills.

4.      Teacher correction is the only way to make students produce the right form of the foreign language.

5.      The goal of  foreign language learning is the ability to understand the texts written in the foreign language.

6.      Mastering the grammar of the foreign  language essential in order for students to understand the written target language.

7.      Vocabulary is learnt from bilingual word list.

8.      The mother tongue is used as the medium of instruction.

9.      A paramount use of transalation  exercise is given.

                                                                                                 

                                                                                             

B.   Procedures of Grammar Translation Method

Even though many new method have been introduced to this day, the Grammar Translation Method remains a standard methodology for teaching English for some teachers. Prator and Murcia  ( cited in Brown, 1987: 75 ) list the major characteristics of the GTM, as follows:

1.      Classes are taught in the mother tongue, with little active use of the target  language.

2.      Much vocabulary is taught in the form of lists of isolated words.

3.      Long elaborate explanations  of the intricacies of grammar are given.

4.      Grammar are provides the rules of  putting words together, and instruction often focuses on the form and inflection of words.

5.      Reading of difficult classical texts is begun early.

6.      Little attention is paid to the content of texts , which are treated as exercises in grammatical analysis.

7.      Often the only drills are exercises in translating disconnected sentences from the target language into the mother tongue.

8.      Little or no attention is given to pronunciation.

9.      The focus in on accuracy, and not fluency.

The characteristics mentioned above area not a set of procedures of the GTM.  Language teachers may develop their own procedures as long as they are in accordance with the characteristics of the GTM. The following procedure of teaching the target language through the GTM is adapted from Larsen-Freeman ( 2000: 15-17 ).

1.      The classs reads a text written in the target language.

2.      Students translate the passage from the target language to their mother tongue.

3.      The teacher asks students in their native language if they have any questions, students ask question and the teacher answers the questions in their native language.

4.      Students write out the answers to reading comprehention questions.

5.      Students translate new words from the target language to their mother tongue.

6.      Students are given a grammar rule and based on the example they apply  the rule by using the new words.

7.      Students memorize vocabulary .

8.      The teacher asks students to state the grammar rule .

9.      Errors are corrected by providing the right answer.

C. Advantages

a.  The phraseology of the target language is quickly explained. Translation is the easiest way of explaining meanings or words and phrases from one language into another. Any other method of explaining vocabulary items in the second language is found time consuming. A lot of time is wasted if the meanings of lexical items are explained through definitions and illustrations in the second language. Further, learners acquire some short of accuracy in understanding synonyms in the source language and the target language.

b.        Teacher’s labour is saved. Since the textbooks are taught through the medium of the mother tongue, the teacher may ask comprehension questions on the text taught in the mother tongue. Pupils will not have much difficulty in responding to questions on the mother tongue. So, the teacher can easily assess whether the students have learnt what he has taught them. Communication between the teacher and the learners does not cause linguistic problems. Even teachers who are not fluent in English can teach English through this method. That is perhaps the reason why this method has been practiced so widely and has survived so long

D.Disadvantages

a.    It is an unnatural method. The natural order of learning a language is listening, speaking, reading and writing. That is the way how the child learns his mother tongue in natural surroundings. But in the Grammar Translation Method the teaching of the second language

CHAPTER III

CONCLUSION

The Grammar Translation Method was developed for the study of “dead” languages and to facilitate access to those languages’ classical literature. That’s the way it should stay. English is certainly not a dead or dying language, so any teacher that takes “an approach for dead language study” into an English language classroom should perhaps think about taking up Math or Science instead. Rules, universals and memorized principles apply to those disciplines – pedagogy and communicative principles do not.

The conclusion according to our group The Grammar Translation Method is one of the method in language learning, this method used to assist the students to understanding of foreign language literature. It’s also experted that the students will become more familiar with the language rules in accordance with the source language.

Grammar Translation Method on translating grammatical form, memorizing vocabulary, learning rules, and studying conjunction. The Grammar Translation Method primary skills to be developed are reading and writing, and it’s impossible to teach in speaking and listening.

BIBLIOGRAPHIES

Larsen-Freeman, Diane. (1986) Techniques and Principles of Language Teaching, Oxford University Press.

Brown, D.H. Teaching by Principles:An Interactive Approach to Language Pedagogy. Longman: New York,2001.

Larsen-Freeman,D. Techniques and Principles of Language Teaching. Oxford:Oxford University Press, 1981.

Setiyadi, Ag Bambang. 2006. Teaching English as Foreign Language. Yogyakarta : Graha Ilmu

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