ther as a collective experience. Small or large groups are formed to create a language learning community. Student is at first a dependent client of the counselor and becomes increasingly independent through five specified stages. Understanding and speaking are emphasized, though reading and writing have a place. The basic premise of the method can be found in the acronym
SARD :
S - security (to foster the student's self-confidence),
A- attention or aggression (students have opportunities to assert, involve themselves),
R- retention and reflection (students think about both the language and their experience learning it), and
D -discrimination (sorting out differences among target language forms).
7. Total Physical Response Method
In this method, both language and body movement are synchronized through action responses and use of the imperative (direct commands). Teacher provides often-humorous variations of commands and the students demonstrate their comprehension by acting out the commands. Once students are ready to speak , they give other students commands too. Activities later include games and skits. TPR is very effective in teaching temporal states, personal pronouns, and other deep grammatical structures. Spoken language precedes the written word.
8. The Communicative Approach
This acquisition-focused approach sees communicative competence progressing through three stages: (a) aural comprehension, (b) early speech production, and (c) speech activities, all fostering "natural" language acquisition, much as a child would learn his/her native tongue. Following an initial "silent period", comprehension should precede production in speech, as the latter should be allowed to emerge in natural stages. Errors in speech are not corrected aloud. A deliberate, conscious approach to the study of grammar is considered to have only modest value in the language learning process. Pairing off of students into small groups to practice newly acquired structures becomes the major focus. Visualization activities that often make use of a picture files, slide presentations, word games, dialogues, contests, recreational activities, and realia provide situations with problem-solving tasks which might include the use of charts, maps, graphs, and advertisements, all to be performed on the spot in class.
