Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching: A Description and Analysis (Cambridge Language Teaching Library) [Paperback]

Jack C. Richards (Author), Theodore S. Rodgers (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521312558 | ISBN-13: 978-0521312554 | Publication Date: January 31, 1986 | Edition: 16th Printing

This widely-used book presents a clear description and analysis of the major approaches and methods used in second and foreign language teaching. Methods and approaches covered include: grammar translation, the direct method, situational language teaching, the silent way, total physical response, the natural approach and suggestopedia.

Editorial Reviews

Review

' ... one of the most objective accounts of these methods that one is likely to find anywhere ...' Cross Currents

Book Description

This widely-used book presents a clear description and analysis of the major approaches and methods used in second and foreign language teaching. Methods and approaches covered include: grammar translation, the direct method, situational language teaching, the silent way, total physical response, the natural approach and suggestopedia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 16th Printing edition (January 31, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521312558
• ISBN-13: 978-0521312554
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #767,312 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Professor Jack C. Richards is an internationally recognized authority on English-language acquisition, teacher training, and materials design. A well-known lecturer and consultant, he has taught at universities in the United States, China, Singapore, New Zealand, Canada, Indonesia, and Brazil. Professor Richards' many successful publications include the Interchange series, Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching, and Curriculum Development in Language Teaching.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Organised and No Frills, March 7, 2007

By 

Bu-Chan (Aotearoa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching (Cambridge Language Teaching Library) (Paperback)

Unlike some books on English language teaching, "Approaches and Methods" by Richards and Rodgers is a logically organised, relatively jargon-free and easily grasped book. It is almost certain you will not be diving for the headache tablets after this book.

Covering a large range of the historical and current second language teaching methodologies, the book discusses methods in a logical format that is the same throughout. They discuss three broad areas: Approach, (the theories and ideas underpinning the method), Design, (roles, materials and so on), and Procedure, (what happens in the classroom). This makes each chapter exceptionally well-organised.

The book covers a lot of different methods, including those that are less in favour these days, as well as some that are more recent. However, some very recent developments are not included, such as the controversial Dogme of Thornbury and Medding. What *is* in the book includes Suggestopaedia, TPR, NLP, Natural Way, Multiple Intelligences and more. All of them come with a brief discussion on the background that they came from.

This is an incredibly valuable book for a run down on the methodologies that have come and gone, (some still on the way out). It is an excellent resource that serves well as a reference, or something to be read from cover-to-cover. Or both.

39 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wrong table of contents, February 21, 2002

By 

Shelley Marshall "Shells" (Miami, Florida USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching (Cambridge Language Teaching Library) (Paperback)

The table of contents that Amazon has listed here is from the 1986 edition and is very misleading and an injustice to this important and valuable book. The new 2001 edition has 19 chapters and is very expanded and reorganised to include many new communicative approaches. Look at another online bookseller for a proper table of contents.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Overview of Teaching Methods, March 6, 2007

By 

Shane (Lynden, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching (Cambridge Language Teaching Library) (Paperback)

This book provides a great overview of all of the major, and some of the minor, approaches to language teaching. This book is laid out into three major sections. In the first section the authors deal with major trends in twentieth century language teaching. This gives an excellent historical look at where language teaching has come from and the thought process that accompanied such trends. The second sections deals with alternative approaches and methods. These include TPR, suggesopedia, whole language, etc. These methods are not commonly used on their own anymore, but used in small ways in overall teaching. The last section is current communicative approach. This is a great chapter on the origin of communicative teaching and how it has changed over the last 20 years.

What is really useful in this book is its layout. Each method is titled in the table of contents for easy access. Then once you are at the appropriate chapter it is subtitled with such useful headings as: approach, method, design, teacher's role, student's role, and types of activities. This really made each method easy to understand and see how it would work in the classroom.