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Questions and Answers
What was the primary legacy of the Oral Approach in language teaching?
Which pair of linguists were notably influential in the development of the Oral Approach?
Which textbook is cited as one of the most successful ESL courses reflecting Situational Language Teaching principles?
When did Situational Language Teaching become particularly popular?
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What was one of the major aims of Palmer and Hornby in developing an oral approach?
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What was identified as an essential component of reading proficiency in foreign language study?
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Which report emphasized the increased focus on reading skills in foreign language study?
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Which of the following was one of the first systematic attempts to design vocabulary selection principles?
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What did Palmer focus on in his work during the 1920s and 1930s?
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What characterized the General Service List of English Words published by Michael West?
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Study Notes
Oral Approach and Situational Language Teaching
- The Oral Approach, developed in the 1920s-1930s, and Situational Language Teaching, developed in the 1950s-1960s, are two closely related approaches to language teaching.
- Both approaches have had a lasting impact on the design of ESL/EFL textbooks and courses.
- The PPP lesson format (Presentation-Practice-Production) is a key legacy of the Oral Approach.
- The Oral Approach was developed by British applied linguists, with key figures like Harold Palmer (1877–1949) and A.S. Hornby (1898–1978).
Principles of the Oral Approach
- The Oral Approach emphasized scientific and rational principles for teaching English, breaking away from the abstract model of grammar seen in the Grammar-Translation Method.
- Two main areas of focus: Vocabulary Selection and Grammar Control.
Vocabulary Selection
- Vocabulary was a fundamental aspect of foreign language learning according to the Oral Approach.
- Frequency counts highlighted that a core of 2,000 words frequently appeared in written texts.
- The Interim Report on Vocabulary Selection (Faucett et al. 1936) and the General Service List of English Words (West 1953b) were key resources for vocabulary selection in teaching English.
Grammar Control
- The Oral Approach presented a different perspective on grammar compared to the Grammar-Translation Method.
- Harold Palmer in Japan focused on developing classroom methods for teaching basic grammatical structures orally.
Situational Language Teaching
- A popular approach until the 1980s, Situational Language Teaching focused on teaching language in context using real-life situations.
- Many successful ESL courses, such as Streamline English (Hartley and Viney 1978), Access to English (Coles and Lord 1975), and Kernel Lessons Plus (O’Neill 1973), reflect the principles of Situational Language Teaching.
- L.G. Alexander's New Concept English (1967) also contributed to this approach.
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Description
Explore the Oral Approach and Situational Language Teaching, two influential methods in language education. This quiz covers their principles, key figures, and the impact on ESL/EFL resources. Test your understanding of vocabulary selection and the PPP lesson format.
