Bilingual

Method
Prepared by:

MARIEL EFREN
 The direct method does not allow the use of mother
Introduction

tongue. But it was felt that sometimes the use of mother

tongue becomes necessary. Therefore it was recommended
that a modified method be used in which mother tongue
may be used when necessary. This was Bilingual Method.
The Bilingual Method means a method in which two
languages are to be learnt and the mother tongue are
used. A child learns the mother tongue or grasps the
situation and learns the foreign language words
simultaneously. In this method, mother tongue is used to
learn the target language.
 In translation method the language
to be learnt and the mother tongue are
used. So some people say that bilingual
method is the same as the translation
method. But it differs from the
translation method in the following
aspects :
1. The teacher does not use
mother tongue continuously but
uses it only for explaining the
meaning of difficult words.
2. Students are given a lot
of practice in the drill of
sentence pattern. Such
pattern is not provided in
the translation method.
3. In Bilingual method, the use of
mother tongue is restricted to
clarify the meaning of English
sentences and words. In translation
method, the mother tongue is used
as the base. In bilingual method,
the mother tongue is used only
when necessary.
 “Bilingual method is an improvement
over other methods. “
Bilingual methods of teaching English is
an improvement upon Translation method
and Direct method. The teacher saves the
time as well as makes the teaching learning
of English easier by using mother tongue.
 Characteristic
principles of Bilingual
Method
1. Permits the use of first
language
2. Teacher is not required to
make situations.
3. Sentence is the unit of
teaching
4.Intensive practice in
sentence patterns
5.Restricted use of
mother tongue
6.Emphasis on
pronunciation
7.Consideration for all
 General phases of a
bilingual class.
I.Basic sentences in the second language
are spoken by the teacher and interpreted
for imitation by the students.
II.
The students repeat or imitate them.
III.
The students are encouraged to speak
without a stimulus from the teacher
IV. The student is not allowed to
respond in his mother tongue.
V. The stimulus and response, both
can be held in the second language.
VI. A normal second language
situation is created.
VII. In the last phase the students
should be given exercises exclusively
in the use of words and sentences
learnt already in the second language.
 Advantages of the
Bilingual Method
• The teacher can save time as the
mother tongue is used.
• An average teacher can use this
method in class.
• This method is less costly as the use of
teaching aids is minimum.
• Mother tongue acquisition rules are
helpful in this method.
Disadvantages of the Bilingual Method
• It cannot be applied in multi linguistic
group
• It requires teachers well versed in both
languages
• Frequent comparison and contrast with
mother tongue may cause confusion.
• It may degenerate into translation method.
• This method diverges the attention of the
students.
• Spoils the continuity and fluency
of the language.
• Can lead to defective
pronunciation
• Danger of the bad habit of
learning everything by filtering
through mother-tongue
• It reduces student’s exposure to
the target language
• It ignores the fundamental aims of
English language teaching
 Conclusion
• C.J. Dodson, the developer of this
method aimed at fluency and
accuracy in spoken words and in
written words as well. He believed
that if the method was administered
properly in the class the children
will become true bilinguals.
 Reference

• Techniques of Teaching English by Dr. Shaik

Mowla
• Techniques of Teaching English – A.L. Kohli
• English Language Educaiton – Dr. K.
Sivarajan.