In between Language Teaching Methods: Do We Need (to Know About) Methods at All?

Abstract

In this study, we attempt to approach the problem of foreign language teaching from the viewpoint of language pedagogy development in different historical periods: from the grammar translation method through the audio-lingual approaches and up to communicative and post-communicative methods. We have come today to reconsider the role and status of language teaching not only because globalization has produced an increase in the number of speakers of English all around the world but also due to the fact that the issue of localization (of language teaching methods and techniques) has also come to the fore. This meta-analytical article circumscribes a number of popular methods amongst which teachers can choose, and we also try to summarize the most important foreign language teaching methods that can be spotted in the era of what is presently called the post-method condition.

Keywords

• language teaching methods
• methodology
• history of methods
• choice between methods
• communicative and post-communicative language teaching