The Grammar Translation Method

The Translation Method is a method in foreign language teaching which utilizes students’ native language. French linguist and teaching methodologist Louis Marchand once pointed out that the Translation Method refers to the translation and explanation of foreign material in one’s own mother tongue. There are mainly two kinds of Translation Method: The Grammar-Translation Method and The Word-Translation Method.

Features:  (1) Translation is the basic mode of FLT in the Translation Method; (2) Grammar is considered the foundation and an effective procedure in FLT; (3) The texts are usually composed of parts of classical literary works; (4) It lays great emphasis on the memorization of vocabulary and grammar rules.

Advantages: (1) It makes full use of the native language by taking translation as a means of FLT. With a comparison of foreign and native languages, some similarities and differences are found. These similarities and differences may help students comprehend the language materials better; (2) The Translation Method emphasizes the study of grammar which is helpful for their understanding of the complex materials in the target language; (3) Attention must be devoted to reading. To learn a foreign language through reading famous works in the target language is advantageous to forstering the students’ ability to read original works; (4) It is simple and convenient to apply. Generally, teachers with the basic knowledge of the foreign language may teach the language; (5) It is easy to have a test and manage a classroom.

Weak points: (1) It relies too heavily on translation and places too much emphasis on the mother tongue. It is easy for the students to cultivate a bad habit of relying on translation, which is not advantageous to the development of their ability to communicate in the foreign language; (2) It overlooks the importance of pronunciation and intonation, thus making it difficult to foster the students’ oral ability; (3) It puts an over-emphasis on the teaching of grammatical knowledge and ignores language skill training; (4) Some sentences and difficult sections from literary works are used as language materials in teaching. That is, in fact, divorced from the reality of the students; (5) It places stress on the “mechanical memorization” of grammatical rules and vocabulary. The teaching forms are uninteresting and unitary, and classroom atmosphere becomes depressing. As a result, it is difficult to arouse the students’ enthusiasm for study.

翻译法是指利用学生的母语开展外语教学。法国语言学家，教学法专家Louis Marchand 曾指出翻译法就是利用学生的母语翻译和讲解外语材料。有两种翻译法：语法翻译法和词汇翻译法。

特征：（1）翻译是外语教学的基本形式；（2）语法是被认为是外语教学的基础；（3）课文通常由一些文学作品组成；（4）强调词汇和语法规则的记忆。

优点：（1）翻译作为外语教学的主要手段，充分利用母语。通过对比外语与母语的相似点和不同点，可以帮助学生更好地理解语言材料；（2）强调语法学习有利于学生理解复杂的外语材料；（3）有利于促进学生阅读外语原著的能力；（4）使用简单，方便。一般来说，教师只要具备基本的外语知识就可以进行教学；（5）容易测试学生，班级易于管理。

不足之处：（1）过分强调翻译和母语。这样学生很容易养成学习和使用外语时过分依赖母语和翻译的习惯，不利于培养学生用外语进行交际的能力；（2）忽视语音和语调的教学，学生的口语得不到培养；（3）过分强调语法知识的教学而忽视了语言技能的教学；（4）学习的语言材料都是一些文学作品片断，词汇很深，脱离学生生活实际；（5）强调死记硬背词汇和语法知识，教学方式单一，课堂气氛沉闷，不易激发学生的学习兴趣。