Second language learning. A discussion of two teaching approaches.

Essay from the year 2005 in the subject Didactics for the subject English - Pedagogy, Literature Studies, grade: A, University of Brighton (School of Languages), course: Grammar & Communication, language: English, abstract: The first attempts of teaching a foreign language were derived from teaching Latin in the sixteenth to eighteenth century. After the decline of Latin as a living language, the main teaching aim was to read and understand historic Latin writings. This situation led to teaching grammar and vocabulary through rote learning. The study of Latin grammar was known to encourage intellectual abilities. Applied to teaching methods in the nineteenth century the Grammar-Translation Method emerged. Since the eighteenth century, foreign language teaching has increased in importance. As modern languages conquer the school schedules in Europe the lessons were based on experience of teaching Latin and the same method was used to teach modern languages. Oral speaking abilities were just used to read aloud the translation they had dealt with. The main exercise was translation from foreign language into mother tongue with the objective to comprehend and learn the different grammar structure between these languages. The Grammar-Translation method became the traditional teaching method from the nineteenth century onwards.