Lecture 1 Methods of Foreign LanguageTeaching as a Science

3. Principles of Foreign Language Teaching.
Principle is defined as a guide to action, in our case as a guide to teaching. Methods of teaching foreign language are based on the fundamental principles of pedagogic (didactics).The seven didactic
principles (consciousness,activeness,visuality,consecutiveness,systematicness,accessibility and durability) are interdependent and mutually complementary. In each subject those principles are applied specifically. For instance, the principle of visuality is differently realized in the teaching of mathematics, geography and foreign languages. Different visual aids are used in teaching different subjects, and the purposes of their use vary.


The principle of accessibility.In teaching of every subject including a foreign language, the principle of accessibility is realized through conformity with the following requirements:
The subject-matter of the instruction must correspond to the age and mental powers of the learners;
1. be either too difficult nor to easy or too childish for them.
2. be rightly closed, i.e. be neither overabundant, nor scarce; this refers to the whole course as provided for in the program, to teach lesson, and each home –assignment; in terms of time relations this means that the rate of progress of the instruction must be neither too rapid nor too slow;
3. be properly graded; each stage should be prepared by, and follow logically from, the preceding stages, without gaps or missing links in the previous instruction.
4. be so presented that the pupils have to grapple only with one difficulty at a time; graduation of difficulties is also an indispensable condition of accessibility.
For example, new grammar material should be introduced on familiar lexical material lest the pupils should be confronted simultaneously with two sets of difficulties. Or in teaching the Past Indefinite tense aspect form of the verb the affirmative form must be introduced first, then the interrogative and negative.