República Bolivariana De Venezuela Universidad Pedagógica

Experimental Libertador Instituto

Pedagógico De Barquisimeto
“Luis Beltrán Prieto Figueroa”

The Grammar-Translation
Method

Group:
Yennifer Flores C.I 17378292
Dennisse Pérez C.I 20927773
Ginesca Morales C.I 20921983
Cesar Luna C.I
SUBJECT: EILE
PROFESSOR: Abilio Mujica

Barquisimeto, January 2016

 The Grammar-Translation Method
Study guide
 

The grammar- translation method of foreign

language teaching is one of the most traditional methods. It
was originally used to teach ‘dead’ languages (and
literatures) such as Latin and Greek, involving little or no
spoken communication or listening comprehension.
The method is based on explicit teaching of
prescriptive grammar rules. It does not seek to take
advantage of the innate capacities which drive language
acquisition in babies and untutored second language
learners.
In this method, the vocabulary and grammar are
emphasized. Reading and writing are the primary skills that the students work on. For this
reason, there is much less attention given to speaking and listening. As result, pronunciation
receives little, if any attention.
Goal
The Grammar-Translation Method has purpose of learning a foreign language is to
be able to read literature writ ten in the target language. To do this, students need to learn
about the grammar rules and vocabulary of the target language. In addition, it is believed
that studying a foreign language provides student s with good mental exercise which helps
develop their minds.
Objectives
1. Students will be able to read literature written in the
target language
2. Students will be able to translate from one language
to another. Also, it helps students to develop reading
and writing skill.
3. To help students read and appreciate foreign
language literature
4. Students can become more familiar with the grammar of their native language also
write and speak their native language better
5. Helpful for mental exercise in literary language is superior to the spoken language.
Students study literature and fine arts.
6. Translating each language into each other is an important goal for learners. Besides,
the authority in the classroom is the teacher.
7. The ability to communicate with the target language is not among the goals of
 instruction.
8. The primary skills to be improved are reading and writing. The focus is on accuracy
(grammatical correctness) and not fluency. For that, it should be conscious of the
grammatical rule of the target language.
9. The structures of the foreign languages are best learned when compared and
contrasted with those of mother tongue.
Characteristics
To read and translate literary masterpieces
and classics. A focus on learning the rules of
grammar and their application in translation passages
from one language into the other. In other words…
• Vocabulary in the target language is learned through direct translation from
the native language. e.g.
the house = la casa
the mouse = el ratÓn
• Readings in the target language are translated directly and then discussed in
the native language.
• Grammar is taught with extensive explanations in
the native language, and only later applied in the production of
sentences through translation from one language to the other.
Ex:
Do you have my book?
Tienes mi libro?
I don’t know where your book is
Nose donde este tu libro
Advantage Disadvantages
 An effective way for application of  Wrong idea of what language is.
grammar and sentence structure  Unnatural method. It starts with the
 Teacher’s labor is saved. teaching of reading not listening.
 Phraseology of the target language is  Speech is neglected as it lays
quickly explained through translation. emphasis on reading and writing.
 Least stressful for students as they use  It does not give pattern practice.
their native language.  Less learners’ motivation
 The Grammar Translation Method is  Create frustration for learners.
still common in many countries even
popular. 
Techniques
1)  Translation of a Literary Passage
Translating target language to native language.
2)  Reading Comprehension Questions
Finding information in a passage, making inferences and relating to personal experience.
3) Antonyms/Synonyms  
Finding antonyms and synonyms for words or sets of words.  
4) Cognates
Learning spelling/sound patterns that correspond between L1 and the target language
5)  Deductive Application of Rule
Understanding grammar rules and their exceptions, then applying them to new examples. 
6)  Fill-in-the blanks                          
(Filling in gaps in sentences with new words or items of a particular grammar type).  
7)  Memorization    
 Memorizing vocabulary lists, grammatical rules and grammatical paradigms.
8)  Use Words in Sentenes 
  Students create sentences to illustrate they know the meaning and use of new words.
9)  Composition     
Students write about a topic using the target language.
Learning to speak a new language requires you to know hundreds of words, and
unfortunately there are very few short cuts to become reasonably fluent you must commit
these new words to memory. But there is a shortcut open to you. Since you already speak
English you have an enormous advantage in learning Spanish due to a lucky linguistic
phenomenon called cognates, which already mention.
Hedstrom (2010), give us some rules of the more common cognates:
i. Most words ending in TION in English end in CIÓN in Spanish, ex: Invitation=
Invitación
Occupation= Ocupación
Conversation= Conversación
ii. Many nouns ending in OR or OUR are often identical in Spanish, ex: Doctor=
Doctor
Tractor= Tractor
 Interior= Interior
iii. Many nouns and adjectives ending in AL are very often identical in Spanish, ex:
Animal= Animal
Capital= Capital
Hospital= Hospital
iv. Many nouns ending in IST in English end in ISTA in Spanish, ex: Artist= Artista
Dentist =Dentista
Novelist= Novelista
v. Many nouns ending in TY in English end in DAD in Spanish, ex: Variety= Variedad
Society= Sociedad
Electricity= Electricidad
vi. Many nouns ending in NCE in English end in NCIA in Spanish, ex: Distance=
Distancia
Coincidence= Coincidencia
Independence= Independencia

I. Read the follow passage.

 Brave New World
In 1967, the scientist Arthur C. Clarke made these predictions about the year 2000:
1. We will have satellite TV. English will become the main world language used in
satellite TV programs.
2. We will have newspapers on computers. People won´t use paper and we will get
our information from TV screens.
3. We will send messages around the world by computer. People will have friends
from all over the world and not just in their own country.
4. People won´t live in cities. Everyone will live in small, independent communities
in the country.
5. The population will increase to 6 billion and then will get smaller. By the end of the
21st century, only a few million people will live on Earth.
6. People won´t work in offices. They will work at home and communicate with
computers.
7. We will have automatic cars with no drivers. Cars won´t use gasoline.
8. We will use technology to make healthier food.
9. We will go no vacation in space. There will be hotels on space stations as well as
on the moon and Mars.

II. Translate Work.

A. Translate some lines into Spanish from the passage “Brave New World”.

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

B. Answer the next questions according to the passage:

1. What is the scientist’s name?

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

2. What will we have on newspapers?

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

3. Where will people work?

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
 4. What will we have with no drivers?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

5. What will we use to make healthier food?

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

C. Answer the following question according to what you understood from the passage:

1) According to what you read, do you think technology is good? Why or why not?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

2) Which of those predictions are real now?

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

III. Vocabulary Work.

A. Look for the Spanish equivalents of the following words:

1) Main:______________________________________
2) Country:____________________________________
3) Population:__________________________________
4) Driver:_____________________________________

B. Synonyms / Antonyms: Look a synonym and an antonym for each the bold words
in the passage.
Ex: Predictions
Synonyms: divination, prophesy or guess.
Antonyms: proof, reality or fact.
a) Friends:__________________________________________
b) Small:___________________________________________
c) Independent:______________________________________
d) Increase:_________________________________________

C. Look for 5 cognates into the passage and write the meaning of each one in Spanish.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
 IV. Deductive application of a rule: Simple Future with “Will” (Grammar)

Simple Future:

The Future is simply a tense that paragraph describe actions that will develop in the
future without clarify when it will occur USING. Its equivalent in Spanish is The Future
Imperfect. For example:

 I will study the lesson.

 I will buy a new car.

Simple Sentences:

 Subject+ Auxiliary “WILL”+ Verb (infinitive) + Complement.

Example:
You will work.

Negative Form:

 Subject+ Auxiliary “WILL”+ not + Verb (infinitive) +Complement.

Example:
You will not work.

Interrogative Form:

 Auxiliary “WILL” + Subject+ Verb (infinitive) + Complement?

Example:
Will you work?

V. Make up sentences with the words you translate before. One sentence per word.
1. Main:______________________________________
2. Country:____________________________________
3. Population:__________________________________
4. Driver:_____________________________________

VI. Write a short composition about what you understood from the passage.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
 Exercises

Part I: Fill in the blank spaces with the correct verbs, words or auxiliaries given in the
chart.

Read - Won`t - Go - Works -

Computers - Work - Talk - Send - Buy

1. We will _________ books on computers. People will __________ virtual message

and we will _______________ with people trough video-call.

2. People will __________ to the space and another planets. They will__________
something through internet shop.

Part II: Put the verbs into the correct form (future simple). Use will. Then, translate them
into spanish.

Jim asked a fortune teller about his future. Here is what she told him:

1. You (earn)__________________a lot of money.

2. You ( meet)_________________ lots of interesting people.
3. You ( not/ have)______________ any problems.
4. You ( travel) _________________ around the world.
5. Everybody ( not/ adore) _______________ you.

References
Brown, H. D. (2006). Principles of Language Learning and Teaching, Fifth Edition,
Pearson ESL.

Hedstrom, B. (2010). The Power of Cognates: Using English to Learn Spanish Quickly and
Easily. Fifth Edition. Trabajo en línea. Disponible en: http://www.brycehedstrom.com/wp-
content/uploads/2011/09/THE-POWER-OF-COGNATES-Sample.pdf [Consultado: Enero
25 del 2015].

Larsen-Freeman D. (2001). Techniques and Principles in Language. Teaching. Second

Edition. OXFORD. University Express.