Eclectic approach -
is a method of language education that combines various approaches and
methodologies to teach language depending on the aims of the lesson and the abilities of the learners.
Different teaching methods are borrowed and adapted to suit the requirement of the learners. It breaks
the monotony of the class. In addition, it is a conceptual approach that does not merely include one
paradigm or a set of assumptions. Instead, eclecticism adheres to or is constituted from several theories,
styles, and ideas in order to gain a thorough insight about the subject, and draws upon different theories
in different cases. ‘Eclecticism’ is common in many fields of study such as psychology, martial arts,
philosophy, teaching, religion and drama.
Approaches and methods
1. Grammar-translation method: It is a method of teaching language by which students learn
grammatical rules and then apply those rules by translating between target language and the
native language. This method developed during the 18th and 19th centuries in Germany. It's
sometimes called the classical method because its frame work was adopted from the traditional
method for teaching.
2. Direct method: It is a method of teaching language through conversation ,discussion words or
objects in the language itself is using the target language and avoiding the native language . This
method emphasize more on the listening and speaking .The teacher avoid translating the word
into the native language , but he tries to use visual aids instead of translation during the whole
learning process. The method originated in France in 1901. It's also called the as the natural
method or reformed method.
3. suggestopedia method: It is a method of teaching originated in 1970s by the Bulgarian
psychiatrist-educator Geori Lozanov. (Richards & Rodger 2001,100)[3]state that Suggestopedia
is a specific set of learning recommendations derived from suggest logy, which Lozanov
describes as " a science … concerned with the systematic study of the non rational and/or no
conscious influence "that human beings are constantly respond to (Stevik1976,42)[4]. GSJ:
Volume 8, Issue 3, March 2020 ISSN 2320-9186 852 GSJ© 2020 www.globalscientificjournal.com
This method emphasize on the psychological or mental aspect by reinforcing the positive
feelings (suggestopedia)or avoiding negative feeling (desuggestopedia).
4. Total-physical response(TPR): It is a method of teaching based on the theory that memory is
enhanced through association with physical response.
5. silent way: It is a method of teaching created by Caleb Gattengo in 1963 ."it is based on the
premise that the teacher should be silent as much as possible in the classroom but the learner
should be encouraged to produce as much language as possible (Richard &Rodger 2001,81)[3]. 3
This method the learner is given more chances to produce language i.e the learner is the center
of the process of learning while the teacher will stay silent as possible as he can ,only give
instructions and brief glance on some topics then the learner are being encouraged to produce
language .
6. Bilingual method: This method of teaching, the teacher teaches the foreign language by giving
mother tongue (native language) equivalents of the words or sentences (Dash, Neena &Dash, M
2007[5]).
7. Structural (situational) approach: In this approach , the teacher teaches language through a
careful selection, gradation and presentation of vocabulary , items and structures through
situation based activity(Aslam, 2008)[6]. GSJ: Volume 8, Issue 3, March 2020 ISSN 2320-9186
853 GSJ© 2020 www.globalscientificjournal.com
8. The communicative approach(communicative language teaching (TCL) ) It is an English language
teaching approach that originated in the 1960s .Little wood states "one of the most
characteristic features of communication language teaching is that it pays systematic attention
to the functional as well as structural aspects of language"(1981,1)[7]. In this approach the
teacher 's main role will be as facilitator or instructor while the learner of foreign language is
required to communicate in target language .
Eclectic approach
General view :
Eclectic approach is a method of language teaching that combines various approaches and
methodologies to teach language ,depending on the aims of the lessons and the ability of the learners. T
he origin of eclectic word: Eclectic comes from the Greek eklektikos (meaning"selsective")from the verb
eklegien ,"to select"
Who created the eclectic approach?
This method was developed by C.J Dodson communicative language teaching.
What is the eclectic thinking?
Eclecticism is a conceptual approach that does not hold rigidly to single paradigm or set of assumptions,
but instead draws upon multiple theories , styles , or ideas to gain complementary insights into a subject
, or applies different theories in particular cases.
