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Theories, Methods and Techniques bring a clear overview of the key methodologies in teaching foreign languages. From the more outdates ones, like repetition drill focused audio-lingualism, through niche systems like the silent way, to mainstream techniques like presentation, practice and production or task-based learning, it highlights the benefits and alerts us to the risks and downfalls of each of those methodologies. The choice of the right method is the key, and is based on a multitude of factors. The level of the language represented by the students has a huge impact on the choice of the learning system, with for example presentation, practice and production very well suited to less advanced learners but too predictable and rigid in structure for more adept students. The amount of time spent on presentation of the lesson content necessary for a low level learner could be utilised much more efficiently in other ways for when addressing a proficient student. Grammar translation is only effective when the teacher is fully versed in his students' native language, and it is a method very susceptible to focusing too much on the language itself, turning it more into a linguistic study rather than equipping the learner with tools to express themselves in the new language. Our choice of the methodology will be also dictated by the individual needs of our students. A person taking on a new language to get by as they travel the world would be more satisfied studying in the task based system, achieving faster progression without focusing as much on the minutiae of advanced grammar and correctness as a business student would, one who needs to achieve a high level of proficiency allowing him to conduct their work in a strictly professional manner. In this chapter I have been particularly interested in the practical examples of activities for each of the lesson phases, and I much appreciate the advice paragraph on lesson planning, as I lack any previous classroom experience.
