In the modern style of teaching traditional and communicative approach is both used in most of the teaching institutions. Although most of us would prefer the communicative approach of teaching language, we still cannot totally forget the traditional methods. If we take a slow drive through our memories we would be able to describe how we were taught language: it was notes on all the parts of grammar which we had to by-heart and then there were the pages and pages of written exercises which took hours to complete. Considering the number of hours that was spent on doing the exercises, if we are really frank we have to admit that it was confusing to put the proper grammar into practical usage.
Today, the communicative approach allows the learner to use the four main skills (listening, reading, speaking and writing) in each of their lessons. This gives the learner a broader area to seek knowledge, at the same time as the learner was totally involved or engaged in the lesson, he/she would understand and remember the parts taught. For instance at times the learners are given a list of words and asked to get the meanings from the dictionary and learn the meanings for the next day. The next day they are asked to make meaningful sentences for the words. It is a wild guess that about eighty percent of the children will not be able to make correct sentences. Why? The dictionary gives a number of meanings for most of the words and it is very difficult for a person who just learns the meanings from a dictionary or any such material to think of the proper ways of using the words. On the other hand if the words were included in a story or some other text and given to the learners they would get the correct meaning and usage.
The grammar-translation method which was used in the 18th, 19th and early 20th century was very common in the traditional approach of teaching language. This is hardly accepted in the communicative approach as it frequently refers back to the learner's mother-tongue. This referring back created lots of grammatical problems in their works. According to some linguists the “emphasis on achieving "correct" grammar with little regard for the free application and production of speech is at once the greatest asset and greatest drawback to this approach”. (http://www.nthuleen.com; 18-08-2006)
The Communicative approach accepts a lot of grammatical structures which a traditional linguist would consider "incorrect". For instance, the use of ain't, double negation, quadruple negation, split-infinitive, the different usage of shall and will etc.
Traditional grammar though still been practiced in lots of institutions, has a prominent disadvantage: it has no capacity to communicate. It is always about learning grammatical structures, completing written grammar exercises, writing essays and still more writing. The grammar that is used in our primary and even secondary schools is mainly the traditional grammar. This can be proved by the fact that each and every lesson is planned using a variety of grammar worksheets.
Today, teaching of grammar is less systematic and is less defined. Grammar is incorporated into the learners' lessons so that the usage comes naturally to them. Communicative approach towards language also places great emphasis on helping students use the target language in a variety of contexts and places great emphasis on learning language functions. Unlike the ALM, its primary focus is on helping learners create meaning rather than helping them develop perfectly grammatical structures or acquire native-like pronunciation.
The world is undergoing a period of rapid change. At this modern open-minded era when the educational system of the whole world is facing new changes with open arms, it is my opinion that as educationists we all need to keep in our minds while preparing the lessons that language cannot be taught using one particular method. Grammar is a fundamental component; so learners need to know the correct grammatical structures. I believe that learners learn best when the communicative aspect is put before grammar. Students should be able to speak and write language so even if they are using the communicative approach some aspects of the traditional approach should be instilled into the lessons. It is important to make students aware that other terminology exists, however, so that they can use dictionaries, handbooks, and grammar texts effectively. In conclusion I would say that whatever method is embraced in teaching, especially language teaching requires a well-trained and experienced teacher who is not scared of hard work. And one very important thing a teacher needs to remember -
"From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs." (Karl Marx).
