The Importance of Clear Definitions in Language Teaching Approaches

Language teachers use a variety of terms to describe their methods and beliefs, but this can lead to confusion and miscommunication within the field. To address this, it is useful to establish clear definitions for key terms. In this article, we propose three definitions to help categorize language teaching terminology: approach, method, and technique.


An approach is a set of assumptions about language and language teaching. It describes a point of view or philosophy, which may be unarguable except in terms of the effectiveness of the methods it generates. For example, the aural-oral approach assumes that language is human, aural-oral, and symbolically meaningful. It also assumes that the structure of a language is unique, and that the primary manifestations of language should be taught before secondary ones.


Method, on the other hand, refers to an overall plan for the presentation of language material. It is procedural and based on the selected approach. A method can be influenced by various factors, such as the student's language, cultural background, and previous experience with English. The goal of the course, the teacher's experience and level of English mastery are also important considerations.


Techniques are the specific activities that carry out a method, and are consistent with the approach. For example, role-playing, group discussions, and reading aloud are all techniques that can be used to carry out the aural-oral method.


By establishing clear definitions for these terms, teachers can focus on the distinctions between their views, and determine where they use differing terminology in what are essentially the same situations. This can lead to better understanding and collaboration within the language teaching community.


It is important to note that these definitions are not the only route to effective language teaching. There are many roads to "Nirvana," and language teachers can adopt, adapt, and develop their own approaches, methods, and techniques. However, having a common understanding of these terms can help facilitate discussion and collaboration among language educators.

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