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REET L1 + L2 · English

Methods of Teaching English: GTM, Direct, Bilingual and the Communicative Approach — REET Notes

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This page lays out the features, strengths, limitations and comparisons of Grammar-Translation, Direct, Bilingual, West's New Method, Structural Approach and the Communicative Approach. REET's English pedagogy questions draw on these methods in every paper, and 'which of these is NOT a feature' questions are answered from exactly these distinctions.

  • 13 questions in REET 2024
  • Teacher-training level
  • 9 min read
Verified 17 September 2026 · Source: NCERT Position Paper: National Focus Group on Teaching of English

How REET asks this topic

REET 2024 carried 13 questions on methods of teaching English. Most questions clustered around the Communicative Approach (the teacher's role as facilitator, its strengths and limits, Indian students' limited exposure) and the Direct Method (obstacles to using it, and which statement does NOT belong to it). Beyond these, questions covered the Grammar-Translation Method's unit of teaching ('word') and deductive grammar, the Substitution method, the Bilingual method, older methods in general, and the 4 categories of structures. Questions often come as 'which of these is NOT', so learn each method's features in clear contrast to the others rather than in isolation.

Approach, method and technique — the difference

In Edward Anthony's (1963) classification, an approach is the underlying belief about the nature of language and learning; a method is the whole classroom plan built on that belief; and a technique is a specific activity carried out in the classroom. Example: 'language is a tool for communication' is an approach; a lesson plan built on that belief is the method; a role-play or pair-work activity is the technique.

The methods of teaching English are broadly understood in two waves. The traditional (older) methods — Grammar-Translation Method and Direct Method — were the ones REET 2024 tested directly in this form. The later methods and approaches — West's New Method, the Bilingual Method, the Structural-Situational Approach and the Communicative Approach — put the emphasis on limited use of the mother tongue, structured practice, and real communication.

Key methods at a glance

Method / ApproachKey nameUnit of teaching / focusMother tongueGrammar
Grammar-Translation Method (Classical Method)Traditional Latin-Greek teaching practiceWord; reading-writing, translationUsed freely as the mediumDeductive — rule first, then examples
Direct Method (Natural Method)Popularised through Berlitz schoolsSentence; oral work comes firstForbiddenInductive — rule discovered through use
West's New MethodMichael West (trialled in Bengal)Reading first, with a carefully selected vocabularyLimitedSecondary
Bilingual MethodC. J. Dodson (1967)Sentence; fast oral practiceOnly the teacher, only to clarify meaningTaught in context
Structural ApproachH. E. Palmer, A. S. HornbySelection, grading and drilling of structures (sentence patterns)Very limitedThrough practising structures
Communicative ApproachDell Hymes — 'communicative competence'Communication in real context, fluencyAs neededSecondary, tied to function

The substitution method is a technique of the Structural Approach itself — you take one correct model sentence and get learners to swap its words in and out (a substitution table).[Source 2]

Grammar-Translation and the Direct Method

Grammar-Translation Method (GTM): its hallmark is translating the text into the mother tongue and memorising word meanings and grammar rules. Its unit is the 'word', and grammar is taught deductively. Its underlying beliefs are that translation best explains foreign phrases, that English words are easiest to explain via the mother tongue, and that comparing the two languages reveals the structure of the foreign one. Advantages: easy to run in a large class, needs less teacher preparation, and helps with reading comprehension. Drawbacks: listening and speaking are neglected, the child never learns to think in English, and the classroom stays teacher-centred and dull.

Direct Method: meaning is connected directly to objects, pictures, gestures and action, with no mother tongue in between. Its unit is the 'sentence'; oral work comes first, reading and writing later; grammar is taught inductively, through use. Advantages: the child begins to think in English and express ideas directly; the classroom becomes activity-driven and lively. Obstacles: it needs a skilled teacher, small classes and supporting materials — a lack of facilities is the single biggest barrier to running it in Indian schools; explaining abstract words (honesty, freedom) without the mother tongue is difficult; and grammar isn't taught systematically.

Bilingual, Structural and the Communicative Approach

Bilingual Method (C. J. Dodson): the teacher gives the mother-tongue equivalent of a new sentence purely to make its meaning clear, but the students don't translate — they repeat the English sentence orally, again and again. It sits between the Direct Method's 'no mother tongue at all' and GTM's 'translate everything'. It saves time, is practical for ordinary schools, and, per the REET 2024 key, develops both fluency and accuracy in the target language.

Structural Approach: language is treated as a collection of structures (sentence patterns). There are three stages — selection, gradation and presentation. Per the REET 2024 key, structures fall into 4 categories: sentence patterns, phrase patterns, formulas (Good morning, Thank you) and idioms. Oral drilling, building speech habits, and substitution tables are its main techniques. When the same structures are taught inside a real situation — classroom objects, acting things out — it's called the Situational Approach.

Communicative Approach: its core idea is that language is always used in real-life situations and contexts, and that meaning has to be constantly negotiated in conversation. The goal is communicative competence — the ability to speak and express oneself. The teacher acts as a facilitator, and the classroom is learner-centred; role-play, information-gap tasks, pair/group work and games are its techniques. Advantages: practical, stresses the functional value of language, is situational, meaningful and motivating. Limitations: writing skill and systematic grammar tend to be relatively neglected, it's harder to run in large classes, and Indian students often don't get enough exposure to English outside the classroom.

Using this in the classroom

SituationSuitable method / techniqueExample
New vocabulary in Classes 1–2Direct Method + a TPR-style activitySaying and demonstrating 'Stand up, touch your nose'
Meaning of an abstract word or difficult sentenceBilingual MethodGive 'honest' once in Hindi, then practise English sentences using it
Practising sentence patternsSubstitution tableThis is a pen / book / bag.
Asking for directions, shopping, market talkCommunicative Approachrole-play: 'How much is this pen?'
Reading comprehension of a storySilent reading, West's New Method styleSilent reading first, then questions

Memory trick / exam tip

Identify the method from its unit: 'Word' = Grammar-Translation, 'Sentence' = Direct/Bilingual, 'Structure' = Structural, 'Context / real-life situation' = Communicative. For grammar: GTM = Deductive (rule first), Direct = Inductive. And in the Communicative Approach, the teacher is always the Facilitator — never 'master' or 'controller'.

REET 2024 questions (solved)

Question 33

_________ is a drawback in the implementation of the direct method in teaching of English.

  1. AUse of mother tongue
  2. BFamiliar texts
  3. CLack of facilities
  4. DCharts

Explanation

Direct Method में मातृभाषा का प्रयोग नहीं होता और अर्थ वस्तुओं, चित्रों, अभिनय आदि से सीधे समझाया जाता है। इसके लिए सहायक सामग्री, छोटी कक्षाएँ और अंग्रेज़ी में दक्ष शिक्षक चाहिए, जो भारतीय विद्यालयों में अक्सर उपलब्ध नहीं होते। इसलिए ‘Lack of facilities’ इसके क्रियान्वयन की प्रमुख बाधा है। ‘Use of mother tongue’ तो इस विधि में वर्जित है, वह बाधा नहीं।

Question 42

‘Unit of teaching is a word’ is a feature of

  1. Adirect method
  2. Bindirect method
  3. Cgrammar cum translation method
  4. Dcommunicative approach

Explanation

Grammar-cum-Translation Method में शब्दों व व्याकरण नियमों को रटकर मातृभाषा में अनुवाद के माध्यम से पढ़ाया जाता है, इसलिए इसमें शिक्षण की इकाई ‘शब्द’ (word) मानी जाती है। इसके विपरीत Direct Method में शिक्षण की इकाई ‘वाक्य’ (sentence) होती है।

Question 48

The Communicative Approach develops

  1. Athe speech and expression ability
  2. Bgrammar skills
  3. Cknowledge
  4. Dvision of learning

Explanation

Communicative Approach का उद्देश्य वास्तविक परिस्थितियों में भाषा का प्रयोग कर बोलने और अपने विचार व्यक्त करने की क्षमता (communicative competence) विकसित करना है। इसमें व्याकरण गौण है और अर्थपूर्ण संप्रेषण प्रमुख है।

Question 89

While working with communicative approach, the Indian students lack

  1. AConfidence
  2. BAdequate exposure to the target language
  3. CFacilities
  4. DAudio visual aids

Explanation

Communicative approach सफल तभी होता है जब विद्यार्थियों को लक्ष्य भाषा (अंग्रेज़ी) सुनने-बोलने का पर्याप्त अवसर मिले। भारतीय विद्यार्थियों को कक्षा के बाहर अंग्रेज़ी का पर्याप्त exposure नहीं मिलता, यही उनकी मुख्य कमी है।

Question 41

In Communicative Approach, the role of a teacher is :

  1. Amaster
  2. Bcontroller
  3. Cfacilitator
  4. Dassessor

Explanation

Communicative Approach में कक्षा शिक्षार्थी-केन्द्रित होती है और शिक्षक का कार्य संवाद की परिस्थितियाँ बनाकर सीखने में मदद करना है, इसलिए उसकी भूमिका 'facilitator' (सहायक/सुविधाप्रदाता) की होती है। 'master' और 'controller' परम्परागत शिक्षक-केन्द्रित विधियों की भूमिकाएँ हैं।

Question 55

In this method we choose a correct sentence as a model and allow the learner to change its words :

  1. ADirect method
  2. BSubstitution method
  3. CGrammar cum translation method
  4. DDr. West’s method

Explanation

Substitution method (प्रतिस्थापन विधि) में एक सही वाक्य को नमूने (model) के रूप में लेकर उसके कुछ शब्दों को बदलकर नए वाक्य बनवाए जाते हैं, जैसे substitution table के द्वारा। इससे वाक्य-संरचना का अभ्यास होता है। Direct method और Grammar-translation method इस प्रकार शब्द-प्रतिस्थापन पर आधारित नहीं हैं।

Question 65

Which one of these is not an advantage of communicative approach ?

  1. ACommunicative approach is practical in use
  2. BIt lays stress on the functional value of the language
  3. CIt develops the writing ability
  4. DThis approach is situational, meaningful, motivating others and is self rewarding

Explanation

Communicative approach व्यावहारिक है, भाषा के कार्यात्मक (functional) मूल्य पर बल देता है तथा परिस्थितिजन्य, अर्थपूर्ण और प्रेरक होता है। इसका मुख्य बल मौखिक संप्रेषण (बोलना-सुनना) पर है, लेखन क्षमता पर नहीं; लेखन कौशल की उपेक्षा को इसकी सीमा माना जाता है। अतः C इसका लाभ नहीं है।

Question 75

Which method helps the learner to speak fluently and accurately in the target language ?

  1. ADirect method
  2. BBilingual method
  3. CTranslation method
  4. DSubstitution method

Explanation

BSER की अंतिम कुंजी के अनुसार उत्तर (B) Bilingual method है। सी. जे. डॉडसन (C. J. Dodson) की द्विभाषी विधि में शिक्षक मातृभाषा का सीमित प्रयोग केवल अर्थ स्पष्ट करने के लिए करता है और फिर लक्ष्य भाषा में खूब मौखिक अभ्यास कराता है, ताकि शिक्षार्थी जल्दी बातचीत के स्तर तक पहुँच सके। पाठ्यपुस्तकों में इस विधि का गुण लक्ष्य भाषा में धाराप्रवाह और शुद्ध बोलना बताया जाता है। Translation method में बोलने के अभ्यास पर बल नहीं होता।

Question 79

Which one of these is not a principle of Grammar translation method of teaching English ?

  1. ATranslation interprets foreign phraseology best
  2. BInductive teaching of grammar
  3. CThe words and expressions in English can be easily interpreted in the mother tongue of the students
  4. DStructure of a foreign language can be easily learnt, when compared and constructed to those of the mother tongue

Explanation

Grammar-translation method में व्याकरण निगमनात्मक (deductive) ढंग से पढ़ाया जाता है – पहले नियम बताए जाते हैं, फिर उदाहरण। अनुवाद द्वारा अर्थ समझाना और मातृभाषा से तुलना इसके सिद्धान्त हैं। आगमनात्मक (inductive) व्याकरण शिक्षण direct method जैसी विधियों का सिद्धान्त है, इसलिए B सही उत्तर है।

Question 37

The old methods used to teach English language are

  1. ATranslation cum grammar method and direct method.
  2. BTranslation cum grammar method and bilingual method.
  3. CTranslation cum grammar method and substitutional method.
  4. DTranslation cum grammar method and multilingualism.

Explanation

अंग्रेज़ी शिक्षण की पुरानी (परम्परागत) विधियों में व्याकरण-अनुवाद विधि (Translation cum grammar method) और प्रत्यक्ष विधि (Direct method) गिनी जाती हैं। द्विभाषी विधि (Bilingual method) अपेक्षाकृत नई विधि है, और substitutional method या multilingualism पुरानी शिक्षण विधियाँ नहीं हैं।

Question 42

Which out of the following is not related to the direct method of learning English ?

  1. AGrammar is taught systematically.
  2. BIt makes pupil to think in English.
  3. CIt enable pupil to express his thoughts and feelings directly by means of English.
  4. DThis method is interesting because it is full of activity.

Explanation

प्रत्यक्ष विधि (Direct method) में मातृभाषा का प्रयोग नहीं होता, छात्र अंग्रेज़ी में सोचते और सीधे अभिव्यक्त करते हैं, और यह गतिविधि-प्रधान होने से रोचक है। इसमें व्याकरण व्यवस्थित (systematically) रूप से नहीं बल्कि प्रयोग के माध्यम से आगमन (inductive) ढंग से सिखाया जाता है, इसलिए (A) इससे संबंधित नहीं है।

Question 45

In language structures can be divided into ________ categories.

  1. A2 (two)
  2. B3 (three)
  3. C4 (four)
  4. D5 (five)

Explanation

संरचनात्मक उपागम (structural approach) में भाषा की संरचनाओं (structures) को चार श्रेणियों में बाँटा जाता है — वाक्य प्रतिरूप (sentence patterns), वाक्यांश प्रतिरूप (phrase patterns), सूत्र (formulas, जैसे 'Good morning', 'Thank you') और मुहावरे (idioms, जिन्हें पूरे रूप में ही सीखा जाता है)। इसलिए BSER कुंजी के अनुसार उत्तर (C) 4 है।

Question 87

‘Language is always used in a context in a real life situation, in a conversation one constantly has to interpret what is being said’ – is a rationale of

  1. Asituational approach
  2. Bcommunicative approach
  3. Cproject approach
  4. Dstructural approach

Explanation

संप्रेषणात्मक उपागम (Communicative approach) का आधार यह है कि भाषा हमेशा वास्तविक जीवन की परिस्थिति और संदर्भ में प्रयुक्त होती है तथा बातचीत में लगातार अर्थ की व्याख्या करनी पड़ती है। इसका लक्ष्य संप्रेषण क्षमता (communicative competence) है, जबकि structural approach संरचनाओं के अभ्यास पर केन्द्रित है।

Practice questions

Question 1

A teacher gives the mother-tongue equivalent of a new English sentence only to make its meaning clear, and then gives plenty of oral practice in English. This is the

  1. ADirect method
  2. BBilingual method
  3. CGrammar-translation method
  4. DWest’s New method

Explanation

In the Bilingual method, the teacher uses the mother tongue only to make meaning clear, then follows it with plenty of oral practice in English. In the Direct method the mother tongue is forbidden, and in GTM the whole lesson is translated.

Question 2

In the grammar-translation method, grammar is taught

  1. Adeductively
  2. Binductively
  3. Conly through games
  4. Dnot at all

Explanation

In GTM, the rule is given first and examples follow — that's the deductive approach. The inductive approach, where the rule is discovered through use, is a feature of the Direct method.

Question 3

The term ‘communicative competence’ was introduced by

  1. ANoam Chomsky
  2. BDell Hymes
  3. CMichael West
  4. DH. E. Palmer

Explanation

Dell Hymes introduced the term 'communicative competence' as a response to Chomsky's idea of 'linguistic competence'. Michael West is linked to the New Method, and Palmer to the structural approach.

Question 4

Dr. Michael West’s New Method gives first priority to

  1. Aspeaking
  2. Breading
  3. Cwriting
  4. Dtranslation

Explanation

West's New Method gave first priority to reading, taught through readers built around a carefully selected vocabulary. Speaking and writing came later.

Question 5

In the direct method, the unit of teaching is the

  1. Aletter
  2. Bword
  3. Csentence
  4. Dparagraph

Explanation

In the Direct method, language is taught as a sentence. 'Word' is the unit used in the Grammar-Translation method instead.

Question 6

Which of the following is a key feature of the structural approach?

  1. ASelection, gradation and drilling of sentence patterns
  2. BTranslation of every lesson into the mother tongue
  3. CMemorising grammar rules before use
  4. DNo oral practice in the classroom

Explanation

The structural approach centres on selecting, grading and drilling sentence patterns. Translation and rote grammar rules are GTM features, and oral practice is actually the very heart of this approach, not something missing from it.

Question 7

A substitution table is mainly used to

  1. Apractise a sentence pattern by changing some of its words
  2. Btranslate a passage
  3. Ctest spelling
  4. Dteach the history of English

Explanation

A substitution table lets learners build several correct sentences by swapping some words in a model sentence, giving practice with a sentence pattern.

Question 8

A Class 4 teacher sets up a pretend shop where learners ask ‘How much is this pencil?’ and reply to each other. This activity mainly reflects the

  1. Agrammar-translation method
  2. Bcommunicative approach
  3. Creading method
  4. Ddeductive teaching of grammar

Explanation

Setting up communication through role-play in a real-life situation is the hallmark of the Communicative approach. It doesn't involve translation, reading-first teaching, or rules taught before use.

Question 9

A teacher in a large rural class finds that learners with little English exposure cannot understand the abstract word ‘honesty’. The most practical step is to

  1. Agive its meaning once in the mother tongue and then use it in many English sentences
  2. Bnever use the mother tongue under any condition
  3. Ctranslate the whole lesson word by word
  4. Dskip the word altogether

Explanation

A limited, deliberate use of the mother tongue (the Bilingual method) quickly clarifies an abstract word's meaning, and then practice in English sentences makes it stick. Translating the whole lesson or skipping the word altogether gets in the way of learning.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a feature of the direct method?

  1. AOral work comes first
  2. BUse of objects, pictures and actions
  3. CFrequent translation into the mother tongue
  4. DInductive teaching of grammar

Explanation

The Direct method does not use the mother tongue or translation. Oral work coming first, the use of objects/pictures/actions, and inductive grammar teaching are all genuine features of it.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions does REET ask on Methods of Teaching English?+

There's no fixed number, but REET 2024's three shifts carried 13 questions from this topic across the English sections. Both Language I and Language II test pedagogy questions.

What is the unit of teaching in the Grammar-Translation Method?+

The word. In the Direct Method, by contrast, the unit is the sentence.

What is the teacher's role in the Communicative Approach?+

A facilitator — someone who creates opportunities for conversation and gives students the chance to actually use the language.

Who gave the Bilingual Method?+

C. J. Dodson, whose book 'Language Teaching and the Bilingual Method' was published in 1967.

What is the biggest drawback of the Direct Method?+

It needs a skilled teacher, small classes and supporting materials; a lack of facilities in Indian schools is the main obstacle to implementing it.

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REET Syllabus

The complete official syllabus for Level 1 and Level 2

REET 2024 Solved Paper

Questions, answer keys and explanations for every shift

Official Sources

  1. NCERT Position Paper: National Focus Group on Teaching of English
  2. ERIC — Dodson, Language Teaching and the Bilingual Method (1967)
  3. Direct Method (Berlitz) — University of Murcia unit notes

Change Log

  • 17 September 2026 — English page published — mirrors the fact-checked Hindi page, independently bilingual-accuracy checked