The Silent Way
By the end of this lecture, students
should be able to:

Develop an awareness about the
history of the Silent Way.

Recognize the nature of the Silent
Way.

Define the Silent Way.

Recognize the methodology of
Silent Way.

Identify the advantages and
disadvantages of the Silent Way.

Form an outline about the Silent
Way.
Objectives
of this
lecture
The History of the Silent Way
Silent Way originated in the early
1970s and was the brainchild of the
late Caleb Gattegno. The last line of
Benjamin Franklin’s famous quote
about teaching and learning can be
said to lie at the heart of Silent Way.
The use of the word "silent" is also
significant, as Silent Way is based on
the premise that the teacher should be
as silent as possible in the classroom in
order to encourage the learner to
produce as much language as possible.
The nature of the Silent Way:

Learning is facilitated if the learner
discovers or creates rather than
remembers and repeats what is to be
learned.

Learning is facilitated by accompanying
(mediating) physical objects.

Learning is facilitated by problem-solving
involving the material to be learned.

Cuisenaire rods (small rods of varying
color and length) are typically used in this
method to introduce vocabulary and
syntax, along with colorful wall charts.
The nature of the Silent Way:

The structural patterns of the target
language are presented by the teacher and
the grammar "rules" of the language are
learnt inductively by the learners.

The role of the teacher in Silent Way as
"Teach, test, get out of the way“, so the
teacher only sets the modes, models the
action and is mostly silent.

The role of the learner, students are
responsible for their own learning, and that
make them independent, and autonomous.
Definition of the Silent Way:

The Silent Way is characterized by a
problem-solving approach to learning, in
which, learners develop independence
and autonomy whilst cooperating with one
another in solving language problems.

The teacher is supposed to be silent hence the name- and must disengage
himself of the tendency to explain
everything.
The Methodology of the Silent Way
1- Beginners are initially taught the sounds of the
new language from color-coded sound charts.
2- Next, teachers focus on language structures, sometimes
using colored, plastic rods to visually represent parts
of words or sentences.
3- As students begin to understand more of the language, they are
taught stories using the rods as props.
So,..At all stages of the method, the teacher models as little as
possible, and students try to repeat after careful listening with
help from each other. The teacher leads them toward correct
responses by nods or negative head shakes.
Advantages of the Silent
Way:

Learners are responsible for their own learning, and
that makes them independent, and autonomous.

Silent way is a departure from the traditional teaching
methods:
1.
The use of physical objects like ( Cuisenaire rods,
colorful letters chart)
2.
Students centered.
3.
No textbooks.

Teachers are mostly silent during silent way lessons and
that makes it easy for the teachers.

No use of the mother tongue, they only use target
language.
Disadvantages of the Silent Way:

Silent way is a complex method that requires the teacher to
receive extensive training in the use of the methodology. So,
it is difficult to find teachers who are comfortable with the
required “silence” of the Silent Way.

Students also need to be well versed in the use of the charts
and the rods to participate effectively in the lessons.

There is a need for a textbook , it is hard for the students to
grasp the information without having a textbook.
Application : Typical Techniques:
•
Cuisenaire rods.
•Color-coded
•
sound charts.
Colorful letters charts (Fidel charts)
•Modeling,
•Imitating
and facilitating ( by the teacher)
and generating new sentences.
•Problem-solving
•Self-discovery
activities.
learning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=YWSLtlwZ5X8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=6YHRG_zbO4U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=50aRITGCAtk
The End
Thank you for your
participation