1

COMPARISON OF GRAMMAR TRANSLATION METHOD

AND ECLACTIC APPROACH

 2

COMPARISON OF GRAMMAR TRANSLATION METHOD AND ECLACTIC

APPROACH

In today`s educational systems, using correct methods and techniques has a huge impact

on the success of the teaching process along with the skills and abilities of the teachers. A

teacher might have good knowledge of the topic s/he is supposed to teach, however;

transmitting this knowledge to the learners of different backgrounds and skills is more

important than the level of this knowledge. Teachers have to be aware of the methods and

how to use those methods according to specific groups of students. Taking into consideration

the fact that there are eight methods developed so far, choosing the best method is also

crucial during the teaching process. In this essay, two of these methods in language teaching

will be compared; widely used grammar translation method and a flexible one, eclectic

method.

The Grammar translation method is well known, traditionally well-established and has

been applied for a long time due to its focus on grammar rules and vocabulary. Though it is a

traditional method, Grammar Translation Method (GTM) is still frequently used by EFL

teachers despite many new innovative methods in some countries where English taught as a

foreign language (Milawati). In such countries around the world, testing has an importance,

and the questions are heavily based on grammar rules and vocabulary knowledge. This is the

main reason for the teachers not to risk lower test results and use this method to strengthen

grammatical and vocabulary skills. Therefore, the meaning of the target language is the

dominant focus during the classes although thinking and producing in target language is

much more important to be able to communicate easily in target language. Meaning is given

by the teacher and therefore the authority in class is the teacher. As a result, the learners
 3

cannot have enough opportunity to put the knowledge into practice in an environment in

which the time is spent to get the meanings of the language items. Reading and writing are

key skills in grammar translation method and little importance is given to listening and

speaking skills. As students have to reproduce the language to communicate effectively in the

target language, this choice of skills cannot be enough to achieve high levels of success in

learning the language.

On the other hand, eclectic approach is a combination of various approaches to reach the

highest level of success in teaching. It is far more than a method; it is the method selection

technique (p 35). Integrating various methods, this method could be thought as the best

method for the students with different backgrounds and skills. Students are active learners

who produce after getting the information from the teacher. Even while giving the

information or theoretical details of the language, the teacher is the facilitator during the

teaching process. This student-centered nature of the eclectic method helps students speak

fluently and perform the grammar rules they have learned. Moreover, this method supports

natural order of learning; listening followed by speech, then reading and writing (p38). Thus,

it gives equal importance to all four language skills. Languages are learnt to communicate

effectively and therefore listening and speaking are inevitable components of an effective

communication.

In conclusion, taking into consideration the nature of language learning, eclectic

approach could be thought a better method than the grammar translation method which is an

older and a traditional method. The students have gradually become the center of the teaching

process throughout the years, and following the traditional method in this changing world is

risky in reaching the ultimate success in teaching language. Although some features of

educational systems and the comfort zone of the teachers force them to use grammar

translation method, combining different approaches to fulfill the needs of different types of
 4

students and focusing on all the language skills equally is a more effective way to create a

more qualified teaching environment.

 5

References

Balla, E. (-). Methods For Teaching English. Teacher Centered Vs Student Centered Class

Management In Teaching English.

Milawati. (2019). Grammar Translation Method: Current Practice In EFL Context.

Indonesian Journal of English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics, Vol4(1),

187-196. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1320367.pdf