Customer Reviews

Teaching Languages: A Way and Ways (Methodology)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you are entering the world of TESOL, linguistics, or Language Teaching this may be a great book for you if interested in and are required to develop a background into the history of foreign/second language teaching.

The book goes over several methods for teaching from the time-laden grammar translation method, to Audiolingual, Silentway, Suggestopedia, TPR, and more. Although I do not advocate these as a method one should be set on in the 21st century I do feel that elements of each have a place in our pedagogical tool box. A snippet of grammar translation would not cause harm with just reason for the inclusion (i.e. translation), as well as ALM (i.e. pronunciation).

This book looks at each method and provides a textbook review of how they would be delivered - and it does so without bias to inform the reader.

Again - there are more organic and engaging methods for the modern language teacher rooted in a better understanding of learning and language acquisition, but as a Masters student venturing into TESOL this is a solid reference. Also, if you find yourself venturing out around the world as an under-qualified language teacher this book will give you some quick ideas for class instruction and management. I stress that these may not be current practice - but you can start to build a pedagogical tool box (ways to teach) as in many areas of the world they are still employing such tactics.

A 5, I feel, is warranted due to the books contribution to TESOL as an overview of the methods (if historical) and for the encapsulation of such a range of methods in one book - not for the modernity of the approaches.