8/9/2019 Comparison on Language-centered, Learner-centered and Learning Centered Methods

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Comparison on Language-centered, Learner-centered and

Learning Centered Methods

By

Aunurrahman

Kumaravadivelu (2006) mentions that there are three important categories of language teaching

method. The methods are language-centered learner-centered and learning-centered methods. These

methods are different in many !ays and sho!ed up as the improvement of the earlier method. The

comparison of each method !ill "e discovered "ased on the theoretical principles and classroom

procedures !hich are covered in chapter # to $ in %&nderstanding 'anguage Teaching rom *ethod to

+ostmethod, !hich !as !ritten "y Kumaravadivelu (2006). The discussion are in the follo!ing

paragraphs.

'anguage-centered as the earliest method used !as derived from "ehaviorism !ith a great

emphasis on ha"it formation. *ean!hile learner-centered and learning centered methods !ere "ased on

cognitive psychologists !ho focused on insight formation. a"it formation such as pattern practice can "e

a "oring practice and did not lead to fluent and effective communication in real life situations.

The opposite vie! presented "y learner-centered and learning-centered methods looed at

language communication as a synthesis of te/tual interpersonal and ideational functions. o!ever if

learner-centered method tried to connect form and meaning learning-centered method puts its main

attention on meaning only. *oreover it !as learning-centered pedagogists !ho tried to seriously and

systematically formulate theoretical principles and classroom procedures needed to translate an a"stract

idea into a !ora"le proposition.

t can "e said that "ehaviorism una"le to descri"e higher processes such as in language andthought !hich has "een done "y the cognitivism vie! (Tomic 13). t is reasona"le that language-

centered method at the end did not give great contri"ution to language teaching. Then the learning-

centered method failed to sho! the empirical evidence of its effectiveness in language teaching. As a

result it is learner-centered method !hich mainly developed until no! specifically communicative

language teaching !hich currently seen as %a set of generally agreed upon principles that

can "e applied in different !ays depending on the teaching conte/t the age of the

learners their level their learning goals and so on, (4ichards 200# p. 20).

ReferencesKumaravadivelu B. (2006). Understanding language teaching: from method to post-method. *ah!ah

5. 'a!rence 7rl"aum Associates.

4ichards . 8. (200#). Communicative language teaching today. 97A*7: 4egional 'anguage 8entre.

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