User:Snehavarghese03/Structural Approach

Meaning of Language
Language is the most powerful and central tool in achieving our educational goal. When it comes for examining language, words are focal points and we begin our investigation of language structure by looking at words from four of the following perspectives:
 * Their parts should be meaningful.
 * Their sounds of syllables that make them up.
 * The principles that organize them into phrases and sentences.
 * The semantic relationships that link them in sets.

About Structural Approach
The Structural Approach is a technique wherein the learner masters the pattern of sentence. Structures are the different arrangements of words in one accepted style or the other. It includes various modes in which clauses, phrases or word might be used. 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.

Definition
This approach as Kripa k. Gautam states "is based on the belief that language consists of 'structures' and that the mastery of these structures is more important than the acquisition of vocabulary. Since structure is what is important and unique about a language, early practice should focus on mastery of phonological and grammatical structures rather than on mastery of vocabulary." Kulkarni "emphasizes the teaching and learning of the basic items or materials that constitute the framework of language." Whereas according to Yardi 'structures' as an "internal ordering of linguistic item", and further adds that structures may be defined as "device that we use to make signal, to convey meanings, and indicate relationship."

Objectives
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.