APPROACHES OF TEACHING YOUNG LEARNERS

Abstract

Approach People use the term approach to refer to theories about the nature of language and language learning. These provide the reasons for doing things in the classroom and the reasons for the way they are done. An approach describes how language is used and how its constituent parts interlock – it offers a model of language competence. An approach also describes how people acquire their knowledge of the language and makes statements about the conditions which will promote successful language learning. Method A method is the practical classroom realisation of an approach. The originators of a method have arrived at decisions which will bring the approach they believe in to life. Methods include various procedures and techniques (see below) as part of their standard fare. When methods have fi xed procedures, informed by a clearly articulated approach, they are easy to describe. However, if a method takes procedures and techniques from a wide range of sources (some of which are used in other methods or are informed by other beliefs), it is more diffi cult to continue describing it as a ‘method’.