Since students all learn in different ways, language teachers are constantly trying new, innovative techniques to tailor language learning methods. In this article, we explore six of the most popular language-learning techniques so you can understand which one might be the most suitable for your linguistic adventures!
An Overview of Language Learning Methods and Techniques
Language learners (and teachers) all have different priorities and goals, which is why there’s no set “best approach” for learning a new language. Depending on the goal of your language studies and your unique learning style, one of the following methods might be perfectly suited to your needs:
TRP – Total Physical Response
James Asher, a professor of psychology at San José State University, coined the TRP learning approach in the 1970s. He noticed that various students responded to instructions and commands given verbally. His conclusion was that students learn their native language by listening and engaging the brain’s right hemisphere. He referred to this process as the TRP approach, combining language and physical movement for optimal learning efficacy. Today, TRP is one of the best approaches for teaching young children a new language, especially regarding vocabulary.
Natural Approach
Although the natural learning approach emphasizes communication, it is not the end goal. Communication is a way to gradually move students closer to mastering a new language. With the Natural Approach to language teaching, there’s no forced learning or explicit error correction. It’s also a lengthy process that allows the student to refine their skills over an extended period. Forma grammar lessons don’t form part of the Natural Approach since teachers often expose their students to well-formed sentences and give them time to correct their grammar over time.
Communicative
Most classroom-based language teaching is offered through the communicative approach since it avoids boring grammatical exercises and stresses the importance of communication. Teachers encourage students to discuss events and describe images to facilitate meaningful communication. Since this language-learning approach makes the learner comfortable in real-life situations within just a dozen lessons, it’s one of the most popular ways of teaching a new language.
Task-Based Learning
The task-based approach to language teaching considers the fact that language is used as a tool. This is why it focuses on teaching authentic language around meaningful tasks. This language-learning approach was popularized by N.S. Prabhu, whom identified three types of gaps that must be bridged with language skills. These include the information gap (conversations between two people), the reasoning gap (coming to conclusions based on existing information), and the opinion gap (identifying personal attitudes, feelings, and preferences). This learning approach offers a broader exposure to linguistics, born out of the student’s needs to communicate with native speakers and not just course content.
Mobile-Assisted Language Learning
Mobile Assisted Language Learning, or MALL, in short, is a modern approach to language teaching centered around a mobile device. At the moment, it’s one of the best language learning methods since technology enables learners to interact with the target language on a daily basis through tablets and smartphones. This approach is generally used by individual learners when learning a foreign language, but it can also be used in a classroom for language learning lessons. Generally speaking, language apps allow students to choose how and what they want to learn.
The Direct Method
Sharing a lot of similarities with the Natural Approach, the Direct Method of language teaching focuses on practice to perfect target language learning. It’s also similar to the approach they use to teach language in classrooms. Only the target language is used for communication, and images, objects, and pantomime assists with the process. This learning method assumes that you’re learning a language like you learned your native language as a child. There is no in-class translation. This gets students thinking in the language they’re learning instead of translating it from their native language to the target language. Elements such as grammar rules and listening skills are also focused on with this extension of language teaching methods. This teaching methodology is the one used in the U.S. State Department and some of the world’s most prestigious international schools.
Final Thoughts on Learning a New Target Language
Although there are various options, one language learning method should resonate with you more than others. Essentially, they are all only as effective as the intent and effort of the student. Learning a new language requires a great deal of consistency and dedication.
More often than not, a combination of learning approaches yields the best results for mastering a new target language. As you explore these different approaches, you’re sure to find one that matches your personal learning style and linguistic goals!