ANALYSIS OF LANGUAGE TEACHING APPROACHES AND METHODS: EFFECTIVENESS AND WEAKNESS

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to undertake a comprehensive review of some approaches and methods of teaching English as a second language. It tries to analyze the effectiveness and weakness of several most influential methods. Grammar – Translation Method, Direct Method, Audio-Lingual Method, Communicative Teaching Method, Natural Approach etc. in order to have a better understanding and application in the future teaching practice. Based on the analyses, it is actually difficult to say which method is most effective unless used in a classroom of students with different needs, learning experience, intellectual levels, cultural background and attitude towards learning English as a second language. The paper suggests that a teacher should combine methods based on the classroom situation of the learners. It concludes that the learning cannot be successful no matter whatever method is applied unless students learn to utilize the classroom method to express thought and feelings outside into the real world situation.