TPR Presentation

Total Physical Response

Anita Ghoreshi, Amber Grace, Ben McMinn, Lisa Weinlich

Discussion

Teaching example

Pros & cons

Approaches & aims

index

TPR - Approaches / Aims

Teach basic speaking skills Uninhibited & intelligible communication

Aims

Lowering of stress factors Relaxed experiences

Reduction of stress

Right-brain learning Motor movement

Brain lateralization

L1 acquisition = L2 acquisition Listening > speaking

The bio-program

Methodology

+ INFO

• 12 - 36 new lexical items per lesson
• action-based drills
• imperative form

Older

Younger

Learners

• materials and realia
• TPR in combination with other approaches

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+ INFO

• no materials necessary
• very guided

• Actively creates a low affective filter
• Takes into account the embodied nature of learning
• Reflective of First Language Acquisition
• Requires little to no previous linguistic knowledge from learners

Pros

• Progressively increasing role of learners
• Acceptance of learner errors in early stages
• Acknowledges the importance of chunks of language
• The imperative as 'powerful linguistic device' (Larsen-Freeman 2000: 112)

Pros

• Reliance on Comprehension Approach
• Limited to imperative forms
• Limited range of implementation re age/development of learners
• Limited to oral modality

CONS

Richards, Jack. C.; Rodgers, Theodore S.. 2001. Approaches and methods in language teaching. Cambridge: CUP.

Larsen-Freeman, Diane. 2000. Techniques and principles in language teaching. (2nd edition). Oxford: OUP.

Hinger, Barbara. 2008. "TPR- Total Phyiscal Response. James Asher's Methode im Schulischen Fremdsprachenunterricht." In Tanzmeier, Robert (ed.). Lehren- Lernen- Motivation. Einführung in die Fachdidaktik für Romanisten und Romanistinnen. Vienna: Praesens.

Bibliography

References

Can TPR be used to teach more complex grammatical structures? How?

Discussion

How can TPR and CLT be combined? What aspects of TPR can be used in a regular classroom setting?

To what extent do you find the hypothesis convincing that second languages are acquired in much the same way as in First Language Acquisition?

THANK YOU