B. Total physical Response
1. Background of Total Physical Response
Total Physical Response TPR is a language teaching method built around the coordination of speech and action; it attempts to teach language through
physical motor activity.
6
Total Physical response is language teaching method developed by James Asher, the method is an example of the comprehension approach to language
teaching. The listening and responding with actions serves two purposes: It is a means of quickly recognizing meaning in the language being learned, and
a means of passively learning the structure of the language itself.
7
It is clear that by this process we can observe how infants internalized their first
language. For many months the child absorbs the language without being able to speak.
James J. Asher say “A reasonable hypothesis is that the brain and the
nervous system are biologically programmed to acquire language, either the first or the second in a particular sequence and in a particular mode. The
sequence is listening before speaking and the mode is to synchronize language with the individual‟s body.
8
So the students are only expected to listen not to speak, the teacher has the sole responsibility for deciding what input students
hear. On the basis of his research, “Asher reasoned that the fastest, least
stressful way to achieve understanding of any target language is to follow direction uttered by the instructor without native language translation”.
9
According to the definition above, it is understandable that Total Physical Response is a language teaching method built around speech and action,
which TPR activities provide both auditory input and physical activity.
6
Jack C. Richards and Theodore S. Rodgers, Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching, London: Cambridge University Press. 2001,p. 87
7
http:en.wikipedia.orgwikiTotal_PhysicalResponse, March, 7
th
2014.
8
Ibid.
9
Diane Larsen Freeman, Techniques and Principle in Language Teaching, Oxford University Press. 2002, p. 108.
2.
The Characteristic of Total physical response
Diane Larsen Freeman stated in his book “Technique and Principles in Language Teaching”, “It should be clear from the class we observed that the
use of commands is the major teaching technique of TPR. The commands are given to get students to perform an action”. Besides he stated “The filter is
kept low as well by the fact the students are not on the spot to speak, they speak when they ar
e ready to do, so “in addition, I will give you a command to do something in English and you will do the actions along with me”.
In other opinion he stated “formal evaluation can be conducted simply by commanding individual students to perform the series of action, teacher
should be tolerant of them and only correct major error”.
The characteristic of Total Physical Response methods are: a.
Teacher is to be a model. The instructor issues commands to a few students, then perform the action with them
b. Develop students‟ flexibility in understanding unfamiliar utterances
c. Enjoy. Which students perform are often humorous
d. The students also learn to read and write the commands
e. Students can to be the instructor. When students are ready to speak,
they become the ones who issue the commands. f.
No basic text; materials and media have an important role later. After students begin speaking, activities expand to include skits and games.
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3.
Design of Total Physical response
In teaching of using Total Physical Response there are many rules that must be followed. Include: the method which used in the class and the language
that presented by the teacher, Objectives of teaching, Roles of teacher and learner. Here the rules of Total Physical Response are:
a. Method
10
Diane Larsen-Freeman, op. cit. p.113
Total Physical Response is very enjoying method for the students. This method asks the response from the students about the teacher command,
because the material given with the imperative form. Because the students are not allowed to speak before they are ready to speak in target language
in learning process in the classroom. b.
Objectives According Richard and Rodgers “The objectives Total Physical response
are to teach oral proficiency at beginning level”. The students should be
capable to communicate with a native language.
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c. Roles of teacher and learner
1 Learner roles
Learners in Total Physical Response have the primary roles of listener and performer. They listen attentively and respond physically to
commands and given by the teacher. Learners are required to respond both individually and collectively. Learners have a little influence over the
content of learning, since content is determined by the teacher, who must follow the-imperative-based format for lesson. Learners are also expected
to recognize and response to novel combinations of their own; learners monitor and evaluate their own progress. They are encouraged to speak
when they feel ready to speak – that is, when a sufficient basis in the
language has been internalized. 2
Teacher Roles In the Total Physical Response Method, the teacher plays a central and
active role in the sense that most of the activities are planned and coordinated by her. She serves as a model of the sentence structures,
which are translated into imperatives forms; in this way, she is the initiator of the process learning.
The teacher decides the content and the way she is to present material to the students. Language learning is thus thought to be partly resulting of
the learner‟s responses to the teacher‟s commands and requests.
11
Jack C. Richards and Theodore S. Rodgers, op. cit. p. 91
In addition to the previous roles, the teacher has the responsibility to direct the classroom activities, such as the various kinds of drills,
exercises, modifications of previously learned patters, and so forth. In sum, she is expected to furnish all feasible opportunities for the students to
achieve successful learning.
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d. Technique in TPR
Freeman, provides expanded descriptions of some commontypical techniques that used in Total Physical Response activities, they are as
follows: 1.
Using Commands to direct behavior 2.
Role Reversal 3.
Action Sequence
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4. Advantages and Disadvantages of Total physical response
No method is the best in teaching in the classroom because every method has the disadvantages and advantages, and so does Total Physical Response.
There are some advantages and disadvantages in process of teaching by using Total Physical Response Method.
a.
Advantages
It is fun and easy. Students will enjoy getting up out of their chairs and moving around.
It does not require a great deal of preparation on the part of the teacher. However, some other more complex applications might.
It is tool for learning vocabulary. Class size doesn‟t need to be a problem.
It is memorable. Action help strengthen the connection in the brain TPR seems to work effectively for children and adults. There is no age
barrier. It is relaxing for students and students learn at their own pace.
12
Jack C. Richards and Theodore S. Rodgers, op. cit. p.93
13
Diane Larsen – Freeman, op. cit. p. 116-117
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