What is meant by the structural approach
Structural Approach:- In the present times, English has assumed the significance of a true world language. We have discussed in the earlier lessons that it is used on three scales in the international arena as a native or mother tongue as a second language and as a foreign language.
Seeing its significance, research was conducted at the Institute of Education, University London. The researchers came to conclude some positive aspects of the structural approach, which is also called the aural-oral approach, as well Some people have erroneously come to confuse it with the direct method The two are entirely different from each other.
Rather, this method can be an improvement over the direct or natural method. Many of the principles; and techniques of the structural approach resemble those of the direct method; however, it is a great improvisation over the old version. Some scholars have called it a method, but it does not seem to be justified. C.S. Bhandari has said, "It is not a method; it is an approach. Any method can be used with it.
This approach came to be applied in the sixties in Tamil Nadu, and was further popularised by the Central Institute of English, Hyderabad. This | approach has found recognition in the schools of Uttar Pradesh under the guidance of the English Language Teaching Institute, Allahabad.
According to C.S. Bhandari -
"The structural approach to English is teaching the learner certain selected structures in a certain order...In structures, meaningful words are used in a particular order to convey their meanings...Structures may be complete utterances or form part of a larger pattern."
According to Brewington
"Structural approach to English is a scientific study of the fundamental structures of English language, their analyses and logical arrangement."
According to Menon and Patel
The structural approach is based on the belief that the learning a foreign language, mastery of structures is more important than the acquisition of vocabulary."
Characteristics of Structural Approach
The characteristics or features of the structural approach can be enumerated as follows:
1. The structures are made use of to enable the students to practise until such time as they become a part of their habit. Thus, structures help. fethe students in forming correct linguistic habits, and the drills are aimed feat such a practice. It enables the students to learn English in a natural way, unconsciously and automatically, easily and habitually.
2. The structural approach stresses on gradation and selection of structures according to the level of the students. The principles followed in this respect are frequency, simplicity and teachability. The structures become increasingly difficult with the passage of time and raising the level of the students.
3. The structural approach takes care of all important pillars of language learning: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Unlike other methods, it is complete in form and fulfils the four-fold linguistic aims of teaching English.
4. The structural approach to teaching of English emphasises the need of speech as a major factor of learning the language. The structures are presented orally and the students practice them in speech by repetition, substitution, question-answer and chain drills.
5. The structural approach is a child-centred activity, rather than being a teacher-centred activity, as the translation-cum-grammar method is.
6. The structures are introduced with the help of situations created by objects, pictures, flashcards, actions, gestures, drawings, graphs and verbal descriptions.
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