The Grammar Translation Method

This method was primary used to teach Latin and Greek, and the main purpose it was to teach to read and write other language. But now the world has other needs because every one is so connected and may be people will need to speak and listen rather than write and read. So I will rescue from this method the importance to learn the grammar rules in L2.

Also It surprise me that this method is the most used around the world because I taught that now there will be so many new and better techniques for teaching.

Personally, I see it as a basic tool to learn to read and write in other language by your own, because with out any one who teaches you, you will just have grammar, vocabulary and structures from your own language so you will try to applied to a new language by using your dictionary, it is hard but it works at least from Spanish to English.

The project Colombia Bilingue

Colombian government has very high aspirations for our students. At year 2019 they must have a B1 level according to the “Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: learning, teaching assessment”, I wonder if all the goals proposed will be really developed? Colombia is trying to apply standards that were done to work in European countries. May be in this coming years some aspects will have to be fixed to our own conditions. As many other things that by the learning process we copy, (japans are experts on that) we must be fixing things in our way, keeping in mind our needs.

In this sense, teachers are a relevant point in this Project because they are the first to know about it, they must shared it with the rest of the society and be aware that they must reach the appropriate English level of proficiency. But, who will tell we have the right level?, How are going to be the examinations, Who are going to make them?

To help Colombian students reach higher levels of language proficiency I think teachers must: improve our own levels of English, review pedagogical tools for teaching in order to implement right strategies in classrooms and also share experiences with other teachers.