Which are the old methods of teaching English ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:

The correct answer is Option 4, which combines the Translation-cum-Grammar Method and the Direct Method. These two methods are historically recognized as the earliest and most traditional approaches to language instruction, especially English, and thus classify as the 'old' methods.

The **Translation-cum-Grammar Method** (also known simply as the Grammar-Translation Method) is arguably the oldest method, dating back to the teaching of classical languages like Latin and Greek. It focuses heavily on teaching grammar rules explicitly and translating texts between the mother tongue and the target language (English). In this method, the primary goal is often reading comprehension of literature rather than communicative competence. This method was the dominant approach for centuries and is characterized by a focus on written rules, detailed memorization of vocabulary lists, and little emphasis on speaking or listening, making it a distinctly 'old' approach.

The **Direct Method**, which emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a reaction against the artificiality and lack of practical skill development inherent in the Grammar-Translation Method, is also classified as an "old" or traditional method. It was revolutionary at the time, insisting that all teaching be done exclusively in the target language (English) without using the student's mother tongue. This method prioritized oral communication, but its strict adherence to the L2-only rule and failure to provide systematic error correction often proved impractical in large classroom settings, leading to its eventual categorization alongside other historical methods. Since both methods represent foundational, historical pedagogical approaches developed primarily before the mid-20th century, they are correctly identified as the old methods.

The incorrect option is 1: the bilingual method.

The bilingual method is a relatively modern teaching strategy that combines aspects of the Direct Method with the intelligent use of the mother tongue (L1) for explaining complex grammar rules or vocabulary quickly. This method emerged in the mid-20th century as a refinement of earlier methods, hence it is considered a contemporary approach, not an old method.

The incorrect option is 2: the substitution table method.

The substitution table method is not a standalone method of language teaching but rather a specific *technique* or *device* used widely within structural or situational approaches, such as the Structural-Situational-Oral Approach (SSOA) or the Audio-lingual Method. These structural approaches developed in the mid-20th century, long after the Grammar-Translation and Direct methods, and are thus classified as more recent teaching tools.

The incorrect option is 3: Dr. West's new method.

Dr. West's New Method (also known as the Reading Method) was developed by Dr. Michael West in the 1920s and 1930s specifically for teaching English in India. Although it is historically dated, it was conceived as a 'new' method aimed at solving the problem of teaching English in a context where students mainly needed reading proficiency, distinguishing it from the older, broader methods focused on different primary goals. Thus, while old in terms of pure chronology, it was a specialized method developed much later than the foundational Grammar-Translation and Direct Methods.