Oral skills versus structural knowledge: the Reform Movement and the Grammar-Translation Method. (2nd September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Klippel, Friederike; Kemmler, Rolf
• Is Part Of: Language & history. Volume 64:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 137
• Page End: 150
• Publication Date: 2021-09-02
• Subjects: HoLLT -- Reform Movement -- Grammar-Translation Method -- oral skills; Linguistics -- History -- Periodicals; 410.9
• DOI: 10.1080/17597536.2021.1996084
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1759-7536

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Considering the most significant international historical research on the history of language learning and teaching since the 1850s as a starting point, this paper builds on the four contributions to this special issue of Language & History to situate the two historical language teaching methods known as the Reform Method and the Grammar-Translation Method in more detail. Before introducing the origins of the Reform Method, the aims and approaches of these two methods are first considered. Then, based on the secondary literature, a brief investigation is made into the possible origins of the German term 'Grammatik-Übersetzungsmethode' and the English equivalent 'Grammar-TranslationMethod', respectively. Finally, the question of whether the Reform Movement can be considered a success or a failure with respect to the dissemination of oral competencies is addressed.