The Reflection on the methods

Mainly I want to talk about the grammar translation method.

As we all knew and experienced it, the grammar translation is the most tranditional method to be used in our junior and senior high school. Maybe someone will criticize that it is just a boring learning way to memorize endless lists of unusable grammar rules and vocabulary, and do those translation exercises all the time. It cannot be doubted that the grammar translation method has its problems. However, I think the more serious problem is not the one mentioned above, but the lack of training in speaking and listening and also little attention to clear pronunciation. That because I believe teaching grammatical structure has its importance; we should not deny this fundamental learning way. After all, sometime memorization can provide good mental exercise and we can use our successful reading skill to know many foreign famous literature and knowledge.

Therefore, I think the problem can be focused on the idea that the second language is taught not as a spoken language, but only a written language. So in my opinion, the teacher can not only use a single method to teach students. If I become an English teacher in the future, I will adopt at least two methods to let my student involved the language learning. Maybe the direct way is not bad one to add into my teaching methods, because I like some of its principle, such as “Both speech and listening comprehension were taught, and correct pronunciation and grammar were emphasized.”, “Oral communication skills were built up in a carefully graded progression organized around question-and-answer exchanges between teachers and students in small, intensive classes.”