Methodology for Second Language Acquisition

The article under review is Armando Baltra's (Apr 1992) On Breaking with Tradition: The Significance of Terrell's Natural Approach, in Canadian Modern Language Review, Vol. 48, No. 3, pp. 565-593. There is no biographical information presented for Baltra. The intended audience is educators, administrators, and others involved in the teaching of a foreign language, including parents of students. The general problem area is deciding the most effective methodology for teachers to adopt for second-language acquisition success among students. Terrell's natural approach comes into conflict with more traditional methodologies which focus solely on grammar and literature.

Baltra does an excellent job of building on prior research, both research that undermines traditional grammar and literature methodologies and their ineffectiveness and research that demonstrates the efficacy of Terrell's Natural Approach. The author's purpose is clearly stated, "I propose to look at Terrell's work in terms of the degree of acceptance or rejection his pedagogic views have had since he first presented them in 1977" (Baltr

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Category: Psychology - M