1. Language teaching approaches
Dannae Del Campo Méndez
There are several approaches which teachers can used to develop a class. One of
them is the total physical response approach which is based on teaching language using
body movements in order to react verbal input. When studying this approach, I
discovered how useful this method can be on students with a kinesthetic learning style.
Moreover, it decreases students’ stress because they speak only when they feel ready to
do it so the affective factor is not an issue to this approach and at the same time it
facilitates their long term retention of what they learn during the class. Although this
approach develops listening, reading and speaking skills it does not develop writing
which is also important so it can be used in children who do not know how to write yet.
We, as future teacher to be, have to be conscious that this approach is mostly used in
children because adolescents and adults feel embarrassed to imitate the movements and
requests the teacher gives to them.
Finally, it is important for future teachers to know their students require so they
can find the perfect approach to cover their needs in a proficient way.