Second Language Acquisition. Teaching Techniques and Strategies

Two types of change took place in the development of teaching methods over the years: one is a result of a change in thinking and the other is a reaction against practices which are being criticized at that particular time. A revolution together with an evolution often comes about in teaching when methods move in a completely new direction, rejecting the aims of contemporary methodologies. From a glance at some of the effects of the reform movement in the nineteenth century on foreign language classrooms it is clear that revolution can have both positive and negative effects on the way teachers work in class. Major shifts in paradigms, such as the shift from concentrating on the written language to the spoken one bring in their wake innovative teaching techniques as the question of “how” to apply the theoretical principles is considered. Some are positive and would appear to be effective and these are then refined and developed, but others are not so positive but may be simply a reaction to what went before.