The Drawbacks of Grammar Translation Method in a Bangladeshi ELT Situation

[shibli]

In the general academic context of teaching English as a foreign language (EFL), the Grammar- Translation Method (GTM) had been practiced for a long time in the English Language Teaching (ELT) context of Bangladesh most probably since the introduction of the curricula of the general education in the sub-continent laid down by the British imperial government during the rule of the British empire. However, let us go through a comment made by an expert:

"The ultimate outcome of the GTM in the ELT situation had been proved unsatisfactory by all means. The total ELT process of GTM could not make the most of the students proficient users of English communicatively achieving equal competence in reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. In the cases of professional and other communicative grounds most of the students having been learned English in GTM fail to communicate successfully resulted from the immediate forgetting of the deductively memorized grammatical rules right after the pass of the examinations."

[ymislam]

Dear Shibli,

Thank you for supporting us in this venture. I myself do not know/remember any grammar rules. However, I did read a lot. At school, speaking in English even in the corridors and in the playground was mandatory. When I started writing and reflecting, my English became even better.

So judging from my personal experience, I would tend to agree with you. So how do we take this knowledge into our classrooms and help our students learn?

-Yousuf

[kulsum]

i think we should make our lessons more activity and presentation based.

Umme Kulsum

[ymislam]

Kulsum,

Good idea! If you wish any input from me, pls let me know.

We can also brainstorm class activities in this forum. If you wish all English teachers can participate in a Wiki and collectively develop various activities for our students. This would become like a Wikipedia of Activities for our students - it would become a resource for Teachers of English.

Let me know what you would like to do. Can other teachers also comment on the idea of a Wiki for English Activities.

-Yousuf

[nusrat-diu]

For assignment, we can select 5 or 6 story books in a semester according to the students' level. There'll be 'reading tracking chart' for every book so that it can be proved that students' understand the theme of the book.

[ymislam]

Nusrat,

Good! After the students read a novel, could we get them to write a guide for other students on the book read. This guide could be prepared using Wiki spaces and each group could contribute to improve and finalise the guide. You could give an outline of what the guide should contain. If you like the idea, I can organise the Wiki for you and the students.

Pls let me know.

-Yousuf

[shibli]

Education aims to facilitate change and learning, which is only possible if one facilitates learning by establishing an interpersonal relationship with the learner.

To be a facilitator a teacher must:
Firstly, discard his/her superiority and be genuine and true in his/her efforts.
Secondly, s/he must genuinely trust, accept and prize the student as a worthy individual.
Thirdly, s/he must openly communicate with his/her students and vice versa.

The following are some of the things that teachers can do to add a little humanistic touch to language teaching in the classroom:

We should learn students' names--it reduces student anonymity and gives them a sense of individuality and responsibility;

When interacting with students we should always maintain eye contact; smile with the students and try to appear open and accessible to them;

We should come to class on time or a little early and stay after class and exchange a little chit chat with the students---it makes them feel 'important and human';

We should move around the class--it makes the class seem smaller and increases student involvement and participation. It also allows the students to move about freely in class;

We should get student feed back about the course for suggestions, problems, expectations, and reactions through informal discussions and students' responses. (To be continued)

[kulsum]

Dear Yusuf Sir,

Thank you for your wiki idea, more people are feeling encouraged to join in the forum, we can make wiki if all are interested.

Unfortunately/ Fortunately nowadays i teach literature most. What i  am planning to do if it is  Drama and Novel i'll select scenes and make my students rewrite(in case of novels) and enact that.  I'll divide them into major two or three groups according to the scenes and in a group they are also divided into 3/4 small groups where some one writes dialogues, someone designs sets and some one does the acting. I'll consider it as their presentation and assignment. If it is poem students are divided according to the stanzas and line division and then they will find out word meanings and figure of speeches..... and they do it as class activity.

How do you find the idea? Any tips?

Best regards

Umme Kulsum

[ymislam]

Dear Kulsum,

Good idea! Groups work better when they take ownership. If you can use cards to first find out their ideas and then group the ideas to give one idea to each group to develop further, it may work wonders.

If you then ask them what they would like to do further and somehow get your own ideas out of them and then give them the work it may be better.

For both of us to find out how to use Wikispaces, I have opened a page for you at:

http://readingguides.wikispaces.com/literaryguides

and also sent you an invitation to join on your email address. Pls join and lets work this out.

-Yousuf

[nusrat-diu]

Dear Yousuf Sir,

Sorry for my late reply.

I would certainly be greatful to you if you help me to open wikispaces for my language I students. They are going through few books like previous semester.remember our previous CSE L1T1 students? I've been informed from their language II teacher that they are doing well in language classes. Now I firmly believe,reading activities that were initiated in my class with your advice and full cooperation,have made our students different.  

Thank you Sir!

Nusrat

[Shahrear]

Sir,
GTM is not perfect for teaching English, that's right. Now which method will you suggest and why at the same time how can we get enough good teachers in your suggested method?

Md. Hasan Shahrear.
MA in English.