What is a language learning approach?

What is a language learning approach?

Definition
	A language learning approach consists of the following three elements:
	views about the nature of language beliefs about language learning, and ideas about how the above should be applied practically to language learning and teaching.

Examples
	Richard and Rogers (1986) cite the following examples of approaches:
	The Oral Approach The Structural Approach The Natural Approach

What is a language learning method?

Definition
	A language learning method is an overall plan for learning a second language, based on the theoretical approach selected. It involves the design of a syllabus for the course, which in turn consists of learning objectives and techniques for achieving those objectives.

Discussion
	There is often confusion among the terms,approach , method, and technique. These three terms may be viewed as points along a continuum from the theoretical (approach), in which basic beliefs about language and learning are considered, to design (method) in which a practical plan for teaching (or learning) a language is considered, to the details (technique) where the actual learning activity takes place.
	Some language learning courses use basically only one technique. These courses could be said to be based on methods such as the Language Learning Cycle, Total Physical Response, or Suggestopedia. More commonly these days a variety of techniques are combined, so the term method is not used in the same sense. Furthermore, some people use the term method interchangeably with technique.

Examples
	The following are examples of language learning methods:
	The Language Learning Cycle Total Physical Response Suggestopedia Counseling Learning Direct Method

What is a language learning technique? Definition
	A language-learning technique is an explicit procedure or strategem used to accomplish a particular learning objective or set of objectives.

Index of techniques

Techniques for improving pronunciation

Techniques for developing grammatical accuracy

Index to grammatical structures you can learn through comprehension techniques

Techniques for building vocabulary

Techniques for learning discourse structures

Techniques for practicing communicative functions

Techniques for learning appropriate varieties

Techniques for learning interactional skills

Techniques for building cultural understanding

Techniques for self-directed language learners

The Comprehension Building techniques

The Audio Archive technique

The Look and Listen techniques

The Illustrated Dictionary or Picture Book technique

Example: The Illustrated Dictionary or Picture Book technique

The Photo Book technique

The Picture Book Plus Recordings technique

The Picture Cues technique

Example: The Picture Cues technique

The Picture Descriptions technique

Example: The Picture Descriptions technique

The Dialogue Strip technique

Example: Illustrating a greeting exchange

The Physical Response techniques

The Listen and Do technique

Example: How to use the Listen and Do technique

The Following Spoken Directions technique

Example: Following Spoken Directions

Introducing and Expanding Material

The Predictable Text techniques

The Bilingual Reading technique

Example: The Bilingual Reading technique

The Familiar Stories technique

Example: The Familiar Stories technique

The Shared Experiences technique

Example: The Shared Experiences technique

The Dumb-Smart Question technique

Example: The Dumb-Smart Question technique

The Culture Exploration techniques

The Interview techniques

Three views about the nature of language

Three views about the nature of language There are many possible theoretical positions about the nature of language. Here are three different views which explicitly or implicity are reflected in current approaches to language learning · The structural view of language · The communicative view of language · The interactional view of language The structural view of language The structural view of language is that language is a system of structually related elements for the transmission of meaning. These elements are usally descibed as phonological units (phonemes) grammatical units (phrases, clauses, sentences) grammatical operations (adding, shifting, joining or transforming elements) lexical items (function words and structure words) Areas of research drawn on Here are some of the areas of research in this view of language: linguistic analysis textual discourse analysis Target of language learning The target of language learning, in the structural view, is the mastery of elements of this system. Methods based on this view Some of the language learning methods based on this view of language are: the Audiolingual method Total Physical Response the Silent Way The communicative view of language The communicative, or functional view of language is the view that language is a vehicle for the expression of functional meaning. The semantic and communicative dimensions of language are more emphasized than the grammatical characteristics, although these are also included. Areas of research drawn on Here are some of the areas of research in this view of language: sociolinguistics pragmatics semantics Target of language learning The target of language learning is to learn to express communication functions and categories of meaning Approaches and methods based on this view Some of the language learning approaches and methods based on this view of language are: communicative approaches functional-notional syllabuses The Natural Approach The interactional view of language The interactional view of language sees language primarily as the means for establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships and for performing social transactions between individuals. Areas of research drawn on Here are some of the areas of research in this view of language: interactional analysis conversational analysis ethnomethodology Target of language learning The target of language learning in the interactional view is learning to initiate and maintain conversations with other people. Approaches and methods based on this view Some of the language learning approaches and methods based on this view of language are: Strategic interaction communicative approaches Source Adapted from Richards and Rodgers 1986