http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Mk6RRf4kKs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoarvInDDjA&feature=related

Q1: What are the principles of TPR?

Natural method

The principle of TPR may be seen in the interaction of

adults and infants in intimate caretaking transactions.

Observations of infants show that most babies internalize,

through body movements, an intricate linguistic map of

how the language works before the infant is ready to talk.

Language acquisition is clearly a linear progression with

comprehension first, then production (Asher, 2001)

Brain lateralization

The left brain does not want the student to take risks

because the person may make a mistake. The right

brain, for comparison, encourages playfulness

without fear. The right brain tells the student: “Take

a chance!. You won’t go to jail! Enjoy it! Just start

doodling in this new language.”

Q2: What is the teacher’s role?

The teacher provides raw material for the “cognitive

map” that the learners will construct in their own

minds.

The teacher refrains from too much correction in the

early stages and as the learners’ speech becomes

“fine-tuned”, more teacher intervention is expected.

Q3: What are the advantages disadvantages of TPR?

Advantages It is fun and easy

It is good for kinesthetic learners who need to be active in

the class.

It does not require a great deal of preparation on the part of

the teacher.

It is a good tool for learning vocabulary.

Class size does not need to be a problem.

There is no age barrier.

TPR is aptitude-free, working well with a mixed ability class.

Disadvantages

It is not a very creative method. Students are not given the opportunity to express their own views and thoughts in a creative way.

It is easy to overuse TPR.

It is limited, since everything cannot be explained with this method. It must be combined with other approaches.