L2 Methods: Overview Grammar translation Audio-lingual The Silent Way Suggestopedia—Superlearning Audio-Tutorial The Community Approach Total Physical Response (TPR) TPR Storytelling or TPRS

Grammar-Translation ‘Classic’ WL method Used for centuries Premise: ‘exact’ translation possible of L1 into L2, or L2 into L1 Thus, Je t’aime = I love you.

Audio-Lingual Originally used by U.S. government to teach ‘perfect’ L2 language patterns, pitch, and intonation. Based on teaching the sounds of the L2 first, before actually seeing the written language Uses ‘canned’ phrases and recombination drills

Audio-Lingual Cont’d Hey, how’s it goin’? Good,…you? Not bad. What’cha goin’ to do tonight? I gotta go home and study. Uhhhh! Hey, dude, take it easy! See ya tomorrow! Later!

Audio-Lingual Cont’d Hey, how’s it goin’? Good,…[not good]…you? Not bad. [O.K.] What’cha goin’ to do tonight? [later] I gotta go home [to the library] and study. Uhhhh! Hey, dude, take it easy! [Have a good one!] See ya tomorrow! Later!

The Silent Way Words, concepts, and grammatical constructions are represented by colored rods Teacher models L1 word or phrase and calls upon students to repeat Teacher uses correct student responses to elicit other students’ responses Teacher does not conduct a conversation not does he/she give direct feedback

Suggestopedia Based on premise that if one is relaxed and put into an ‘alpha state’ in a non-threatening, low-anxiety environment, one can learn better than traditional ways The learning environment is decorated in the target language’s motif Each student is given a new identity in the L2 and becomes that new persona

Suggestopedia Cont’d Classical music is usually played in a low-lighted room where students may sit on the floor or in comfortable seats The instructor coaxes the students into listening first in the L2, then, repeating the new L2 Superlearning is supposed to take place.

Audio-Tutorial Students are autonomous learners Students proceed at their own pace Individualized learning is the key Students engaged in all L2 skills, use tapes to listen and record progress, grade their own quizzes and tests The teacher is the facilitator

The Community Approach Students are positioned in a circle There is a proficient L2 speaker standing behind each WL student learner The teacher circulates and facilitates When L2 learners need assistance in speaking in the target language, the communal helper tells the L2 learner what to say

Total Physical Response (TPR) Follows the Psycholinguistic Model (listening, speaking, reading, writing) Students respond to commands given by the teacher When successful with the L2 commands, students may then give the teacher and each other commands in the L2 to follow TPR is the single most used L2 method to date and has many variations

TPR Storytelling Uses TPR techniques and manipulatives/visuals Repeats vocabulary in context Uses a story-telling approach Heavy interaction with students in a non-threatening, hands-on way Highly successful