Structural Approach in Teaching Language

STRUCTURAL APPROACH
IN TEACHING
LANGUAGE
Jayzel Mariz M. Tangkeko
MAED-English
•Nita is there.
•Is Nita there?
•There Nita is.
•There is Nita.
Structural Approach
The learner masters the pattern of
sentence
It is based on the assumptions that
language can be best learnt through a
scientific selection and grading of the
structures or patterns of sentences and
vocabulary.
According to Menon and Patel the objectives of
the new structural approach are as follows:
to lay the foundation of English by establishing

through drill and repetition about 275 graded
structures.
To enable the children to attain mastery over an
essential vocabulary of about 3000 root words for
active use.
To correlate the teaching
of grammar and composition with the reading
lesson.
To teach the four fundamental skills, namely
understanding, speaking, reading and writing in
the order names.
To lay proper emphasis on the aural- oral
approach, activity methods and the
condemnation of formal grammar for its own
sake
Main features of structural approach
1. Word order - Word order or the pattern of form is very
important in Language
a) Jo broke his toy.
b) The toy broke Jo.
2. The presence of function words
• Function words help in modifying meaning considered the
following sentence -
a) I ate an ice cream.
b) I'm eating an ice cream.
c) I will eat an ice cream.
3. The use of few Inflections
By adding an affix, the base form of the word can be
altered.e.g.:
a) In verbs: I play; he plays; I am playing ; I played
b) In nouns; One boy; two boys; one man
c) In adjective and adverb: Great - Greater - Greatest
Selection of structures
•Usefulness - the structures, which are more
frequent in use should be introduced first
•Productivity - some if the structures are

productive, other structures can be built upon.
for e.g.: we have two sentence pattern- a) Mr.
Roy is here b) Here is Mr.Roy
•Simplicity - The simplicity of the structure
depends upon the form and the meaning.
•Teach-ability - Items easy from teaching

point of view.
•Frequency - The structures must be
selected with a high frequency of
occurrence.
•Range - to know, in how many contexts it is

applicable
•Coverage - A word covering a number of
meanings
For e.g.: Meals
•Learnability - teacher should focus on the items
that are easy for students to learn should be
taken first.
Gradation of Structure
1.Grouping
•a) Phonetic grouping - group according to
sound. for example: cat, rat, mat etc.
•b) Lexical grouping - grouping according

to words used in same situation.
Grouping
c) grammatical grouping - pattern of sentences similar
should be taught together.
d) Semantic grouping - Words having similar meaning

grouped together.
e) Structure Grouping - selecting items that are fit for

each other.
2. Sequencing
a)Grammatical sequencing - it will tell that it
follows which structure.
e.g.: I was watching a movie. I was
watching a movie with my friend.
Sequencing
b) Semantic sequencing - A word having different
meanings
e.g.: The ball is there, under the bed.
There are many balls in the bag.
c) Lexical sequencing - It Tells which word follows

which
e.g.: sit-stand, come-go, high-low
3. Types of patterns of sentences
•a) Two- part patterns like She goes (she / goes)
•b) Three-part patterns
e.g.: He is reading (He / is / reading )
•c) Four-part patterns
e.g.: Geetha went to school
( Geetha/went/to/school)
Types of patterns of sentences
d) Patterns beginning with 'there', 'wh' type question
e.g.: There are five baskets in the rack. What is your
name?
• e) Patterns of Command and Request

e.g.: come here, sit down, stand up etc.
• f) Formal pattern - like Good Morning, Thank You etc.

4. Sentence Patterns
•a)Statement of Fact - mention simple facts
e.g.: Pinky gets up at 6 a.m. She takes bath. she eats her breakfast.
she goes to school. ( subject-verb-object pattern )
Sentence Patterns
• b) Imperative sentence - Question form verb-subject-
object pattern
e.g.: Did Pinky come to school today? has she taken her
breakfast ?
• c) Imperative sentence ( imply compliance) subject

remains hidden.
• e.g.: (Pinky) Come here, Close the door, Bring your book etc.
5. Phrase Patterns
Sentence using phases are called Phrase
pattern.
e.g.: That book is 'on the table'
Thank you 

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What are the main features of the structural approach?

What are the objectives of the new structural approach according to Menon and Patel?

STRUCTURAL APPROACH

to lay the foundation of English by establishing

•Productivity - some if the structures are

•Teach-ability - Items easy from teaching

•Range - to know, in how many contexts it is

•b) Lexical grouping - grouping according

d) Semantic grouping - Words having similar meaning

e) Structure Grouping - selecting items that are fit for

c) Lexical sequencing - It Tells which word follows

• e) Patterns of Command and Request

• f) Formal pattern - like Good Morning, Thank You etc.

• c) Imperative sentence ( imply compliance) subject

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