34 From those lists above, the writer comes to an assumption that this
method focus on reading and writing skills in the context of translation. They do a lot of exercises based on reading text given. This method less
attention to speaking and listening exercises whereas those are essential skills in English language.
5. The Teaching Simple Past Tense through Grammar Translation
Method
The teacher uses the students native language to teach them, the teacher greet the students by using native language.
The class begins by reading a passage in their book. The passage is in exc
erpt entitled” I went to the Beach”. Each student is called on to read a few line from the passage. After he has finished reading, he is
asked to translate into his native language the view lines he has just read. The teacher helps him with new vocabulary items. When the
students have finished reading and translating the passage, the teacher asks them in native language if they have any questions.
Then, the teacher asks them if they have any questions. The teacher answers their question by giving clear explanation through their native
language. Since the students have no more questions, the teacher asks them to write the answers to the comprehension questions which appear
at the end of the excerpt. The questions are in English, and they are instructed to write the answers in English as well.
The students would be instructed to learn one set of vocabulary from the passage by memorizing lists of first and second language. And
then, they are doing the translation exercise, it is easier for students to translate from second language into mother tongue. After this, they are
asked to find the antonyms and synonyms in the passage. All of those can give important contribution to the improvement of written for
second language learners.
35 In Grammar Translation Method, errors are naturally; all language
learners make errors as they learn. Learning grammar rules consciously is not the only way they are learnt. They may help a learner to check the
correctness of what heshe is saying or writing, but they can be learnt or acquired in indirect ways too.49 The teacher reads a description of two-
word or phrasal verbs. If there some new that have not learned yet, the teacher will explain and the students are asked to translate it, then they
are given the role of some grammar. Finally they are asked to do the exercise based on the grammar rule that has been taught. The exercise
more on the writing skills, such as fill in the blanks, they fill in the blanks with new vocabulary items of a particular type, such verbs form
in the simple past tense. Then they write a composition based upon the vocabulary item or grammar rule that was given, memorize the
remaining vocabulary items and write sentences for each items.
6.
The Steps of Teaching Simple Past Tense through Grammar Translation Method in the Classroom
1. The class begins by reading a passage in
the students‟ book 2. The students are asked to translate into his native language the view
lines he has just read 3. The teacher helps him with new vocabulary items. When the students
have finished reading and translating the passage, the teacher asks them in native language if they have any questions.
4. The teacher answers their question by giving clear explanation through their native language.
5 The teacher asks them to write the answers to the comprehension questions which appear at the end of the excerpt.
7. The questions are in English, and they are instructed to write the answers in English as well.
49
Cliff Benson, Teaching English As A Second Language , … , p.60.
