Which one of the following is true of the Translation-cum-grammar method?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:

The Translation-cum-grammar method, often simply referred to as the Grammar-Translation Method (GTM), is a traditional language teaching approach focused primarily on two elements: translating texts from the target language into the native language and drilling grammatical rules. Since the instruction is predominantly conducted in the students’ mother tongue, and the primary focus is on written translation and reading comprehension of literary texts, the use of the target language for actual communication is severely limited. Teachers spend little to no time engaging students in spontaneous dialogues, role-plays, or question-and-answer sessions in the foreign language. Consequently, the method inherently fails to develop oral proficiency. It prioritizes the analytical knowledge of the language structure over the practical skill of speaking. Therefore, the statement "It lacks conversation practice" accurately describes one of the major and most recognized drawbacks of this method. This deficiency is why GTM is often criticized by modern methodologies, which emphasize communicative competence.

The incorrect options are:

The incorrect option is 2:
Comprehension, particularly of reading passages, is a main goal and is explicitly tested in this method, often through translation exercises. While testing speaking comprehension is difficult, reading comprehension is central to GTM, as students are required to understand the literary texts they are translating. Therefore, stating that "Comprehension is not easily tested" is false within the context of the method's priorities.

The incorrect option is 3:
This statement is fundamentally untrue for the Grammar-Translation Method. The name itself highlights that **grammar** is the core component of instruction. The lessons are structured around explicit teaching of grammatical rules, which students must memorize and apply rigorously to written exercises and translations, meaning grammar is prioritized, not ignored.

The incorrect option is 4:
While GTM may not foster the most practical or idiomatic use of language, it is highly effective at developing students' reading vocabulary, particularly in the context of academic and literary words. Since students spend extensive time translating dictionaries and literary texts word-for-word, they actually build a substantial, though often passive, vocabulary bank, making the claim that vocabulary remains limited inaccurate.