Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Total Physical Response a excellent method to put into practice.

TPR is a method developed by Dr. James J. Asher, a professor of psychology at San  José State University. The method relies on the assumption that when learning a second or additional language. The language is internalized through a process of code breaking similar to first language development and that the process allows for a long period of listening and developing comprehension prior to production. Students respond to commands that require physical movement.

TPR is primarily intended for ESL/EAL teacher, although the method is used in teaching other languages as well. Also, it became popular in the 1970´and attracted the attention or allegiance of some teachers, but it has not received generalized support from  mainstream educators.

TPR is based on the premise that the human brain hasa biological program for acquiring any natural language on earth - including the sign language of the deaf.  The process is visible when we observe how infants internalize their first language.

It looks to the way that children learn their native language. Communication between parents and their children combines both verbal and physical aspects. The child responds physically to the speech of the parent. In addition, the responses of the child are in turn positively reinforced by the speech of the parents. For many months the child absorbs the language without being able to speak. It is during this period that the internalization and code breaking occurs. After this stage the child is able to reproduce the language spontaneously. With the TPR the language teacher tries to mimic this process in class.

The method also promises double efficency in terms of rate of learning.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home