GRAMMAR TRANSLATION METHOD

Grammar Translation Method is a method of teaching language that has the purpose to helping students read and appreciate foreign language literature.

Formerly in the nineteenth century, this method was called Classical Method, the traditional method which used in the teaching the classical languages, Latin and Greek.

The method allows the using of mother tongue in learning target language in the classroom. The mother tongue is used as the medium of instruction, would not work for any form of listening and speaking teaching. Using mother tongue is important in learning target language. Students’ comprehension and understanding of the target language learning become more developed if teachers use native language or mother tongue in the language learning process.

Grammar Translation Method emphasizes the ability of translating the foreign language literature. Language skills that are emphasized are reading and writing. Vocabulary is also emphasized in memorizing word lists. The ability to speaking and pronouncing in the target language is not a goal of the method.
This method can develops students’ competence and skills in writing, reading and translating foreign language literature. Also, easier students in learning target language from the using of native language in the target language learning process. An important goal is students be able to translate each language into the other. Students are considered successful language learner, if they able to translate one language into another.

The method is very easy to applied by language teachers in the target language learning process because everyone can use the method easily in teaching target language without require a certain skill.

Teacher’s role is very important. Teacher is the centre of learning and has the authority in the classroom. Teacher decides whether an answer is correct or incorrect. It is very significant that students get the correct answer.

During learning process, teacher translates difficult words in target language into the native language in order explain the meaning of the words to the students.

The disadvantage of this method is students are not able to communicate or speaking in the target language, because communication skill is not emphasized in the language learning process. Also, there is lack of student-student interaction, because most of the interaction in the classroom is from the teacher to students.