What is traditional grammar?

Some of the main characteristics of traditional grammar teaching are:

• Its prescriptive approach where the rules are strict.
• Memorizing lists of words.
• Memorizing all the grammatical rules.
• The use of the student’s mother tongue.
• Translation as the basis of the activities.
• The majority use of the written language, both literary texts and written expression.

Origin of traditional English grammar

Throughout time, the teaching of grammar was characterized by following traditional methods. For this reason, it is known as “traditional grammar”, “regular or traditional method”, “school grammar”, or “grammar-translation method”.

The rise of the traditional method of teaching grammar occurred from the second half of the 19th century in Europe. Between the 17th century and the first half of the 19th century, no changes were made in English grammar books or in the teaching of this subject. Until then, he focused on the “grammar of the word.”

Subsequently, other approaches that emerged after 1850 emphasized the importance of grammar, especially in the order of words and the sentence as a whole.

Later, some researchers, such as the American professor George Hillocks, suggested that traditional grammar had some negative effects on learning English. In some studies it was found that the use of traditional grammar, for example, when marking errors, caused a decrease in the quality of students’ writing.

Currently, traditional grammar is used less and less. In fact, other grammar teaching methods have been developed that are more effective.

Other methods of teaching English

Currently other methods are used for teaching English grammar. Some of them are:

• Direct method : it was developed in the 19th century by Maximilian Berlitz and Francoise Gouin and is an improvement on the traditional grammar translation method.
• Natural approach : this method seeks for the student to imitate the way in which they acquired their first language. It does not emphasize formal rules but encourages intuitive and experiential learning.
• Audio-lingual : it began to be used in World War II. Grammar learning is based on pronunciation and oral repetition.
• Cognitive approach : It is mainly used in the academic field. It is characterized by promoting the reasoning and analysis of the student to process the concepts and characteristics of English based on knowledge of their mother tongue, their personal experience and their limitations and abilities.
• Total Physical Response Method : It is a form of kinesthetic learning that uses commands and physical actions to quickly incorporate new language knowledge.

Bibliography

• Mancinelli, D. Learn English in 1-3 months with the “Switch On” method . (2019). Spain. Independent publication.
• Bragg, M. The Adventure of English: The Biography of a Language . (2011). United Kingdom. Arcadian.
• Baugh, A. A History of the English Language . (2012). United Kingdom. Routledge.
• Martín Gavilanes, MA The cognitive approach in language teaching . (Didactics/Language and Literature, 13: 215-234. PDF format). (2001). Spain. Complutense University.