Total Physical Response
Total Physical Response is a language teaching method which is based on the assumption that the coordination of speech and action will boost language learning. It was developed by James Asher in the 70s He drew from a variety of areas, including psychology, learning theory and humanistic pedagogy.
According to the trace theory of memory in psychology, the more often and intensively a memory is traced, the stronger the memory association will be and the more likely it will be recalled. The retracing can be verbal through repetition and/or in association with motor activity. This clearly reminds us of of the behaviuoristic psychology which holds a Stimulus-Response model of learning. The stimulus in the TPR method is verbal and the response is physical. In this respect TPR has many similarities to the Direct Method.
From developmental Psychology Asher draws the parallel, he contends exists, between first language acquisition and 2nd language learning. Children get language through a series of commands from their parents to which they react phyisically. It’s only later that they can produce verbal responses ( cf Jean Piaget works). Asher contends that humans are endowed with a sort of bio program which follows this process of language learning and that when teaching a 2nd language we must follow the same process so that learning can be successful. Asher in this respect adhers to a naturalistic method of language learning (cf Krashen’s Natural Approach). Language learning must focus on comprehension and the teaching of speaking must be delayed until comprehension skills are established. Asher also thinks that the skills acquired through listening transfer to other skills and that meaning preceds form.
Asher’s method relies on three assumptions about language. First Asher thinks that a lot of the grammatical structures of language and many vocabulary items can be learned from the skillful use of the imperative form. In his view, verbs in the imperative are primordial forms upon which laguage learning can be organized. Command drills can be a vehicle to the internalization of a lot of language structures and vocabulary. Another TPR assumption about language is the one that distinguishes between abstractions and non-abstractions. According to Asher, abstractions are not necessary to teach language to beginners. On the other hand, non-abstractions can help build a detailed cognitive map and grammatical structure of language. The third assumption about language states that language can be internalized not only as single items but also as wholes or chunks. This is an idea that will be later developed by Michael Lewis (1993) in his Lexical Approach.
Relying on humanistic pedagogy, TPR also stresses the importance of a stress free environment. In fact, second language learning often causes a lot of stress and anxiety. However, if teachers focus on meaning transfered into physical activityrather than on abstract language forms students are freed from stress and anxiety.
Features of TPR
In a nutshell, here are the most salient features of the TPR:
- The coordination of speech and action facilitates language learning.
- Grammar is taught inductively.
- Meaning is more important than form.
- Speaking is delayed until comprehension skills are established.
- Effective language learning takes place in low stress environment.
- The role of the teacher is central. S/he chooses the appropriate commands to introduce vocabulary and structure.
- The learner is a listener and a performer responding to commands individually or collectively.
- Learning is maximized in a stress free environment.
TPR Activities
Activities in the TPR method rely on action based drills in the imperative form. In fact the imperative drills are introduced to elicit physical/motor activity on the part of the learners. The use of dialogues is delayed. Typical classroom activities include:
- Command drills
- Role plays on everyday situations (at the resturant, at the movies …)
- Slide presentations to provide a visual centre for teacher’s narration, which is followed by commands or questions
- Reading and writing can also be introduced to further consolidate grammar and vocabulary and as follow ups
Criticism
- Asher doesn’t reallydetailed account of his distinction between abstractions and non-abstraction. For example, as Richards and Rodgers (1986: 88) state, are tense, aspect and so forth abstractions ,and if so, what sort of detailed cognitive map could be constructed without them?
- TPR deals with only the beginning stages of language learning
- TPR syllabus and the utterance and the sentences within it are questionable as far as their communicative relevance is concerned
Advantages
- When used in association with other methods and techniques TPR can yield tremendous results.
- For many teachers TPR represents a useful set of techniques and is compatible with other approaches to language teaching.
- The focus on comprehension is another appealing feature of TPR.
- The method is compatible with new approaches to language learning as it stresses the importance to meaning rather than form.
- Learning highly benefits from TPR’s emphasis on stress reduction.
References:
Richards, Jack C. and Theodore S. Rodgers (1986). Approaches and methods in language teaching: A description and analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Related posts:
- Grammar Translation Method History The Grammar Translation Method is an old method which...
- The Audiolingual Method Audiolingual Method View more presentations from jesler. The Audio-Lingual method...
- The Direct Method History The Direct Method, also called Natural Method, was established...
- Situational Language Teaching (Oral Approach) The Oral Approach or Situational Language Teaching is an approach...
- Suggestopedia The origin of Suggestopedia Suggestopedia is a language teaching method...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
