Directions: The use of the mother tongue in EFL (English as Foreign Language) classes had always been discussed controversially.

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问题     Directions: The use of the mother tongue in EFL (English as Foreign Language) classes had always been discussed controversially. Some researchers support the idea of its inclusion while some others do not Some even claim that the use of translation can become a helpful EFL learning practice technique. It has been argued that the Grammar-translation Approach has over the years had a remarkable success. Millions of people have successfully learnt foreign languages to a high degree of proficiency and, in numerous cases, without any contact whatsoever with native speakers of the language, as was the case in China in the 1970s and 80s. Furthermore, certain types of learner respond very positively to a grammatical syllabus as it can give them both a set of clear objectives and a clear sense of achievement Above all, this approach can give learners a basic foundation upon which they can then build their communicative skills.
    However, it has been felt that translation itself is an academic exercise rather than one which would actually help learners to use language, and an overt focus on grammar is to learn ABOUT the target language rather than to learn it Critics point out that this method typically creates a teacher-centric classroom, with no opportunity for speaking practice, and that learning tedious grammar rules and long lists of vocabulary does not prepare students to communicate in real-world situations.
    What do you think of the claim that the grammar-translation method can be used as a supplement to a more communicative approach? Write a composition of about 400 words to join the discussion expressing your own opinions on this topic You should use your own ideas, knowledge or experience to generate support for your argument Write your answer on the answer sheet (30 points)
    Note: In the first part of your writing you should state clearly the thesis statement (i. e. , your main argument) , and in the second part you should support your argument with appropriate details. In the last part you should bring what you have written to a natural conclusion or a summary. Marks will be awarded for content, organization, grammar and appropriateness. Failure to follow the above instructions may result in a loss of marks.

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答案 The late 18th century and the earlier 19th century witnessed the great success of the grammar-translation approach in foreign or second language teaching. A hallmark of this method is using translation and grammar study as the main teaching and learning activities. It is "a way of studying a language that approaches the language first through detailed analysis of its grammar rules, followed by application of this knowledge through the task of translating sentences and texts into and out of the target language". The communicative approach of language teaching came into being in the 1970s and 1980s. This approach recognizes that learners need to know the grammatical rules of the language, but stresses that the purpose of learning such rules is to be able to do things and to perform functions. Based on the characteristics of these two teaching methods, some people claim that the grammar-translation method can be used as a supplement to the communicative approach. I can’t agree any more. On the one hand, the grammar-translation method is not altogether obsolete and even today this approach in modified forms continues to be used in some parts of the world, which demonstrates the method has its own advantages. Attaching great importance to grammar study and translation practice, this method is instrumental in developing students’ reading and writing abilities. People who are good at reading and writing can gain the upper hand over those who don’t in this information-overloaded age when people have to deal with an overwhelming quantity of information every day. They may filter out the unwanted information and finish reading the information they need with great efficiency and precision. On the other hand, because the grammar-translation method pays little attention to speaking and listening, it cannot meet the communicative need of today’s society. The communicative approach, by contrast, aims to enable students to gain the communicative competence through language learning. In other word, it is intended to teach students to use appropriate words in appropriate contexts. Therefore, instead of functioning as the main teaching method, the grammar-translation method can only be used as a supplement to the communicative approach. In conclusion, the grammar-translation method focuses on reading and writing and ignores listening and speaking while the communicative approach pays more attention to developing learners’ ability of using the language in real life. However, no teaching method is omnipotent and every method has its own advantages and disadvantages. At present, with the growing needs for communication worldwide, the communicative approach should be used widely while the grammar-translation method can only serve as a supplement.

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