Rationalism: Grammar-Translation

Question 1

Rationalism: Grammar-Translation

Grammar-Translation Method

A language teaching “ ______ “ that, as its name suggests, operates using a ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ and ______ ______ . A ______ pedagogy in that it is very focused on ______ of ______ . It mainly aims for a ______ / ______ ______ of the language, and is now generally ______ , even though elements of it persist.

Answer 1

Grammar-Translation Method

A language teaching “method” that, as its name suggests, operates using a combination of detailed grammar explanations and translation exercises. A rationalist pedagogy in that it is very focused on understanding of rules. It mainly aims for a reading/writing knowledge of the language, and is now generally rejected, even though elements of it persist.

Method of Rationalism

Question 2

Rationalism: Grammar-Translation

Rationalism

View of learning that places more emphasis on the ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ and ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ that ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ . In language learning contexts this is often referred to as mentalism. (Contrast: Empiricism)

Answer 2

View of learning that places more emphasis on the structures that are already in your mind and how they impose order on the experiences that reach you through your senses. In language learning contexts this is often referred to as mentalism. (Contrast: Empiricism)

To do abstract reasoning

Question 3

Rationalism: Grammar-Translation

Noam Chomsky (Linguist)

Opposed ______ with a ______ view of language: ______ ______ is driven by an innat ______ ______ ______ ______ which is ______ to ______ a ______ ______ (a ______ ______ ______ of ______ for ______ ______ that ______ ______ ______ ______ ).

Answer 3

Opposed behaviorism with a rationalist view of language: language acquisition is driven by an innate Language Acquisition Device which is able to access a Universal Grammar (a highly abstract set of rules for generating language that underlies all actual grammars).

Question 4

Rationalism: Grammar-Translation

Language Acquisition Device (LAD)

______ term for that ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ to ______ ______ a ______ , and ______ a ______ ______ ______ of the ______ ______ of ______ ______ ______ .

Answer 4

Chomsky’s term for that part of the brain that is ready from birth to start acquiring a language, and builds a language system out of the various bits of language input received.

Question 5

Rationalism: Grammar-Translation

Universal Grammar

______ notion that ______ the ______ ______ of ______ ______ ______ ______ is a ______ of ______ ______ ______ that are ______ ______ and that ______ the ______ to ______ ______ .

Answer 5

Chomsky’s notion that underneath the particular grammars of all the world’s languages there is a set of universal language structures that are genetically given and that allow the brain to construct language.

Question 6

Rationalism: Grammar-Translation

Interlanguage

A term for the ______ ______ ______ in a ______ ______ that is ______ ______ the ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ or ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ , but that nevertheless has its ______ ______ and ______ .

Answer 6

A term for the intermediate language system in a learner’s head that is not quite the same as either their mother language or the correctly formed target language, but that nevertheless has its own regularities and rules.

Question 7

Rationalism: Grammar-Translation

Critical Period Hypothesis

The hypothesis that there is a ______ ______ _____ (_____ ______ _____ ) during which we are_____ ______ to ______ ______ , ______ which the ______ ______ to ______ ______ ______ . Debates continue about how much of this is _____ -_____ and how much is other factors.

Answer 7

The hypothesis that there is a critical age range (the childhoood years) during which we are best able to acquire language, after which the brain’s ability to acquire language declines. Debates continue about how much of this is hard-wiring and how much is other factors.

Question 8

Rationalism: Grammar-Translation

What are the Grammar-Translation Beliefs?

• Language is ______ ______ ______
• Learners are ______ ______ ______ ; ______ ______ is the ______ ______ ______
• Learning takes ______ ______ ______ ______

Answer 8

• Language is basically grammatical structure
• Learners are primarily rational thinkers; logical thinking is the pinnacle of personhood
• Learning takes place through rational analysis

Question 9

Rationalism: Grammar-Translation

What are the Goals for Grammar-Translation?

• Primary focus on ______ and ______ ; little emphasis on ______ / ______ ______ or ______
• Language learning ______ ______ ______; ______ ______

Answer 9

• Primary focus on reading and writing; little emphasis on oral/aural skills or culture
• Language learning promotes logical thinking; academic focus

Question 10

Rationalism: Grammar-Translation

What are the techniques for Grammar-Translation?

• ______ and ______ ______ of ______ ______ in the ______ ______
• ______ ______ ______ ______ to ______ ______ ______ or drawn from ______ ______
• ______ ______

Answer 10

• Explicit and systematic explanation of grammar rules in the mother tongue
• Short reading texts constructed to contain grammar points or drawn from high culture
• Translation exercises