The eclectic approach to language teaching: its conceptualization and misconceptions.
Date
2017-02
Authors
Mwanza, David Sani
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Humanities Social Sciences and Education (IJHSSE)
Abstract
The eclectic approach to language teaching has become common and fashionable in modern
language teaching. However, not much has been done to explain what eclecticism is in the context of language
teaching. Thus, this paper sets to explain two sides of the argument. Firstly, it argues for what the eclectic
approach is (conceptions) and secondly, the commonly held misconceptions about the method are presented and
discussed. Methodologically, the study was purely qualitative involving both primary and secondary data.
Secondary data was collected through reading of literature on the eclectic approach. Primary data was
collected through focus group discussions with 90 secondary school teachers of English who were purposively
sampled from 9 secondary schools from the central province of Zambia. Part of the findings show that the
eclectic approach is a hybrid which should be viewed as one method comprising features of different methods.
One of the misconceptions held by some teachers was that the eclectic approach refers to the use of more than
one method in a lesson one after the other.
Description
journal article
Keywords
Language and languages--Study and teaching--Zambia.