Dr. Michael west's new method

Methods of Teaching English

1. Dr. Michael West’s New Method Lt. Dr. B. Ajantha Parthasarathi Assistant Professor of English & Associate NCC Officer Sri SRNM College, Sattur .

2. Dr. Michael West Director of Education in Bengal before partition Professor, Dacca University

3. Aims of teaching English to Indian children English being an international language , promotes internationalism and a feeling of brotherhood among different people of the world. It provides an easy channel for communication with the people all over the world and thus broadens the outlook In the field of science no Indian language is as rich as English English enriches the minds of the Indian people who can get good reading material through English from all over the world.

4. Principles Ability to read is more important than the ability to write – Indian children have less opportunities to speak Indian children can derive real benefit from reading habits Silent-reading habits – more useful and of lasting value “Passive” work precedes the “active” work “active” – “the productive command” & acquired proficiency of expressing oneself in this language “passive” – a receptive command i.e., ability to understand written English A new type of reading book – vocabulary is strictly controlled & interesting reading material is presented with the help of limited vocabulary A minimum of 1158 words are adequate for expressing one’s ideas in day-to-day conversation 2 kinds of words: Form words – words which connect ideas and make the form of the language Content-words – words with which we talk

5. Advantages Aims at developing reading ability – very necessary for learning a foreign language Laying emphasis on silent reading – proves more effective in developing comprehension Oral reading & silent reading – induce the pupils to self-activity Reading – easy & free from phonetic difficulties Oral & silent reading – improving written & spoken English Reading – makes them feel that language & develops interest in reading literature Reading – gives practice in correct forms of language Controlled vocabulary – developed by this method New words & meanings – readily grasped by the pupils Lays down definite procedures of teaching for the teacher – makes his task easy & economical Material presented is properly conserved by the pupils

6. Disadvantages Not possible to maintain the distinction between speaking and reading Overemphasized the value of passive work – reading alone cannot be trusted as a sure method of learning words and structures Reading without any fund of vocabulary – meaningless Not emphasizing 4 aspects of language (LSRW) – reading with understanding is only emphasized Reading alone – creates monotony and dullness Silent reading – educationally unsound – making the teaching procedure dull and passive Against the educational principle – proceeding from simple to complex Grammar, composition & idioms – neglected in this method Educationally & psychologically unsound