Question

The 'Silent Way' is a method of language teaching devised by ------------

• A. B.F. Skinner
• B. Georgi Lozanov
• C. Caleb Gattegno
• D. Noam Chomsky

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Caleb Gattegno

The Silent Way - Language Teaching Method

• The Silent Way is a language teaching method developed by Caleb Gattegno in the 1960s.
• It is an eclectic method, meaning it draws from various approaches to language acquisition.
• The core principle of the Silent Way is that the teacher should be as silent as possible, allowing students to discover the language themselves through problem-solving.
• Key features of the Silent Way include:
  • Fidel charts: Color-coded charts displaying phonemes and their corresponding spellings, helping students associate sounds with symbols.
  • Cuisenaire rods: Colored rods of varying lengths used to represent words, phrases, and grammatical structures, facilitating visual and kinesthetic learning.
  • Peer correction: Encouraging students to correct each other, fostering active participation and reducing reliance on the teacher.
  • Problem-solving approach: Presenting language as a puzzle for students to solve, promoting critical thinking and self-discovery.
• Gattegno believed that traditional methods often overemphasized imitation and memorization, hindering genuine language acquisition.
• The Silent Way aims to develop learner autonomy and encourage students to become independent language users.
• This method has been applied to teaching various languages, including English, French, Spanish, and others.
• Caleb Gattegno was an Egyptian-born educational theorist and linguist known for his work in mathematics education as well as language teaching.