Total Physical Response (TPR) is a method of teaching language using
physical movement to react to verbal input in order to reduce student
inhibitions. Because of the importance Total Physical Response (TPR)
gives to listening comprehension, it is called Comprehension Approach. I
think that if we compare TPR with other approaches, it seems different.
Other methods have students speaking L2 from the first day. In TPR,
language learning starts first with understanding and ends with
production.
Also, there is a relationship between TPR & Natural Approach. The
first step in Natural Approach procedures is starting with TPR
commands. The students listen to the teacher using L2
communicatively. The teacher in TPR is the director of all students
behavior. For example, he/she helps her/his students to understand
her/his by using pictures or games. The students are followers of the
teacher. From my reading, I found that some students will be ready to
speak usually after 10-20 hours of instruction. At this point, they start to
direct the teacher.
I believe that TPR trains students to respond quickly and naturally
while also teaching vocabulary in a fun & lively lesson. I applied this
method with my sixth elementary grade students. The lesson was about
instructions. I & students were very enjoyable. It allows students to react
to language without thinking too much.
The teacher interacts with the whole group of students & with individual
students. Like Desuggestopedia & Community Language Learning, the
feelings of students are important. TPR reduces the stress students feel
when studying other languages. Students speaks when they are ready
because forcing them will create anxiety.
But I think TPR does not give the opportunity to students to express
their own views and thoughts in a creative way. Also, It is limited,
because everything cannot be explained with this method. I think that
it must be combined with other approaches.
Finally, listening is the first important skill in TPR. Then, speaking.
After that, reading & writing. According to the evaluation, the teacher
evaluates students' accuracy and fluency. He/She may give
communicative tests. Teacher must be gentle & tolerant when he/she
corrects the errors. He/She corrects only major errors.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
King Saud University
College of Education
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Total Physical Response(TPR)
Advanced Teaching Methodology for TESOL 2
Prepared by: Ashwag Al-Fahd
Supervised by: Dr.Hind Al-Fadda
Second Semester 32/33