भाषा शिक्षण की विधियाँ
Methods of Language Teaching
Language teaching methods differ on one question: should the learner study the language or use it? The older methods taught rules through the mother tongue; the newer ones build ability through communication. CTET consistently favours the communicative end of this range.
The main methods
| Method | Core idea | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| Grammar-Translation | Learn rules and translate sentences; mother tongue is the medium | Produces knowledge about the language, not the ability to use it |
| Direct Method | Only the target language is used; meaning through objects and actions | Hard in a large class; excludes the child's home language |
| Audio-Lingual | Habit formation through repeated pattern drills | Mechanical; drills do not transfer to real conversation |
| Structural Approach | Teach selected sentence structures in a graded order | Structure can crowd out meaning |
| Communicative Language Teaching | Language is learnt by using it for real purposes | Needs a confident, well-prepared teacher |
| Bilingual Method | The home language is used deliberately as a bridge | Needs a teacher fluent in both languages |
Communicative Language Teaching
CLT treats communicative competence, not grammatical accuracy, as the goal. Its classroom is full of information-gap tasks, role play, discussion, group work and real materials; grammar is taught when it is needed and after use. Fluency is not sacrificed to accuracy, and errors are treated as a normal part of developing ability.
The term communicative competence comes from Dell Hymes, who argued that knowing a language means knowing when, how and to whom to say what — not only whether a sentence is grammatical.
Where the older methods still fit
- A short translation can clarify an abstract word quickly.
- Some pattern practice helps automate a new structure in the early stage.
- A grammar rule stated after plenty of use consolidates what the child has already felt.
- The mistake is making any of these the whole method.
What CTET treats as correct practice
- Meaning before form; use before rules.
- The child's home language is a resource, not an obstacle.
- Errors are evidence of learning, corrected selectively and gently.
- Group and pair work, because language is learnt by using it with others.
- Real texts and real purposes rather than isolated sentences.
✗ The best way to teach English in Class 4 is to teach the rules of tense first. | ✓ Give plenty of meaningful use first; the rule is stated afterwards.
संकेत: व्याकरण-अनुवाद विधि भाषा के बारे में ज्ञान देती है; संप्रेषणात्मक विधि भाषा का प्रयोग करना सिखाती है।
Methods give 1-2 questions, usually asking which method a described lesson illustrates or which is best for a primary class. Any option involving translation drills, repetition of patterns or rule-first teaching is the weaker one; the communicative option is nearly always correct. Learn to recognise each method from one sentence of description. Dell Hymes and communicative competence appear as a direct one-line item.
Frequently asked questions
What is the grammar-translation method and why is it criticised?
It teaches a language by explaining its rules in the mother tongue and translating sentences. It is criticised because it produces knowledge about the language and reading ability, but little ability to listen, speak or use it naturally.
What is communicative language teaching?
An approach in which language is learnt by using it for real purposes through tasks, role play and discussion. Communicative competence rather than grammatical accuracy is the goal, and grammar is taught after and through use.
Who gave the concept of communicative competence?
Dell Hymes. He argued that knowing a language involves knowing what to say, to whom, when and how, not merely whether a sentence follows the rules of grammar.
60-second recap
- Grammar-translation teaches about the language; CLT teaches use of it.
- Direct method uses only the target language; audio-lingual uses pattern drills.
- Structural approach grades sentence structures; bilingual uses the home language as a bridge.
- Communicative competence is Dell Hymes's term.
- CTET favours meaning before form and use before rules.