Scribd
Upload
37 views2 pages

Total Physical Response

Uploaded by

Cris Aybo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
37 views2 pages

Total Physical Response

Uploaded by

Cris Aybo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Total physical response (TPR) is a language teaching method developed by James Asher, a

professor emeritus of psychology at San José State University. It is based on the coordination of
language and physical movement. In TPR, instructors give commands to students in the target
language with body movements, and students respond with whole-body actions.

The method is an example of the comprehension approach to language teaching. Listening and
responding (with actions) serves two purposes: It is a means of quickly recognizing meaning in
the language being learned, and a means of passively learning the structure of the language
itself. Grammar is not taught explicitly but can be learned from the language input. TPR is a
valuable way to learn vocabulary, especially idiomatic terms, e.g., phrasal verbs.

Asher developed TPR as a result of his experiences observing young children learning their first
language. He noticed that interactions between parents and children often took the form of
speech from the parent followed by a physical response from the child. Asher made three
hypotheses based on his observations: first, that language is learned primarily by listening;
second, that language learning must engage the right hemisphere of the brain; and third, that
learning language should not involve any stress.

TPR is often used alongside other methods and techniques. It is popular with beginners and
with young learners, although it can be used with students of all levels and all age groups.

How TPR Works:


The teacher gives commands, such as "stand up" or "walk to the door," and students physically
respond by performing the action.
As students become more comfortable, they begin to give commands and even add complexity,
helping them transition from comprehension to production.
Overall, TPR is an excellent approach for early stages of language acquisition and for
introducing new vocabulary in an engaging, interactive way

When to Use TPR:


Early Language Learning: It is highly effective for teaching young children or beginners,
especially in acquiring basic vocabulary and commands in a new language.
Engaging Kinesthetic Learners: It works well for learners who benefit from movement and
physical activity to enhance retention and understanding.
Low-Stress Learning: TPR can create a low-anxiety environment, allowing learners to acquire
language in a more relaxed and natural way without the pressure of speaking immediately.
Teaching Action-Oriented Vocabulary: It’s useful for teaching verbs, prepositions, and other
words that can be easily associated with physical actions (e.g., "sit," "stand," "open," "close").

Conclusion
TPR is an example of the comprehension approach to language teaching. Methods in the
comprehension approach emphasize the importance of listening to language development and
do not require spoken output in the early stages of learning.[5] In TPR, students are not forced
to speak. Instead, teachers wait until students acquire enough language through listening that
they start to speak spontaneously.[1] At the beginning stages of instruction students can
respond to the instructor in their native language.[6]

While the majority of class time is spent on listening comprehension, the ultimate goal of the
method is to develop oral fluency. Asher sees developing listening comprehension skills as the
most efficient way of developing spoken language skills.[4]

Lessons in TPR are organized around grammar, and in particular around the verb. Instructors
issue commands based on the verbs and vocabulary to be learned in that lesson.[7] However,
the primary focus in lessons is on meaning, which distinguishes TPR from other grammar-based
methods such as grammar-translation.[8]

Grammar is not explicitly taught, but is learned by induction.[8] Students are expected to
subconsciously acquire the grammatical structure of the language through exposure to spoken
language input, in addition to decoding the messages in the input to find their meaning. This
approach to listening is called codebreaking.[9]

TPR is both a teaching technique and a philosophy of language teaching. Teachers do not have
to limit themselves to TPR techniques to teach according to the principles of the method.[10]

Because the students are only expected to listen and not to speak, the teacher has the sole
responsibility for deciding what input students hear.[11]

Example of TPR in a Classroom:

In an English class, a teacher introduces action verbs to young learners.

The teacher says, "Jump!" while physically jumping. The students mimic the action.
The teacher then says, "Run!" while pretending to run in place, and the students follow the
action.
The teacher might combine commands, such as "Jump, then sit!" and students respond by
performing both actions in sequence.
This technique helps students connect the words with the actions, making it easier for them to
remember the vocabulary through movement. The physical response reinforces comprehension
and retention without the need for translation.

You might also like