grammartranslation

Grammar-Translation Method is a traditional approach to foreign language instruction rooted in the study of classical languages in Europe. Its central goal is to enable reading and translating literary texts through explicit knowledge of grammar rules and vocabulary. In practice, lessons are teacher-centered and rely on rule-based explanations, memorization of lists, and written translation exercises. Students typically translate passages from the target language into their native language and back, analyze sentence structure, identify grammatical forms, and perform drills focused on grammar and morphology. The teacher presents rules, explains exceptions, and corrects errors. Materials commonly include grammar handbooks, bilingual dictionaries, and literary texts. Speaking and listening receive limited attention, and class time is devoted mainly to reading and writing proficiency and translation tasks.

The method originated in 19th-century language pedagogy and is closely associated with teaching Latin and Greek; it was later applied to modern European languages. It is valued for providing a clear, systematic view of grammar and for developing reading skills and translation accuracy. However, it has been criticized for neglecting communicative competence, pronunciation, and authentic language use, and for producing tedious, rote learning with limited real-language use.

In contemporary education, grammar-translation is usually studied as a historic or traditional approach and appears in some exam-focused curricula or as a supplement to more communicative methods.