TOTAL PHSICAL RESPONSE

TOTAL PHYSICAL RESPONSE


Total Physical Response (TPR), which is an ESL methodology developed by James J. Asher, has been in use for nearly thirty years. The method became popular in the 1970's and attracted the attention or allegiance of some teachers. While other methods have come and gone, Total Physical Response (TPR) is still a valuable tool when teaching newly-arrived ESL students. Despite the wealth of materials available to us, nothing is more useful with a newcomer than this very direct and visual instruction.

The method relies on the assumption that when learning a second or additional language, language is internalized through a process of codebreaking similar to first language development and that the process allows for a long period of listening and developing comprehension prior to production. Students respond to commands that require physical movement. TPR is primarily intended for ESL teacher, although the method is used in teaching other languages as well.



How can I use TPR in class?



In the classroom the teacher plays the role of parent. She starts by saying a word ('jump') or a phrase ('look at the board') and demonstrating an action. The teacher then says the command and the students all do the action. After repeating a few times it is possible to extend this by asking the students to repeat the word as they do the action. When they feel confident with the word or phrase you can then ask the students to direct each other or the whole class.

It is more effective if the students are standing in a circle around the teacher and you can even encourage them to walk around as they do the action.

Teaching Steps in TPR

Step I The teacher says the commands as he himself performs the action.

Step 2 The teacher says the command as both the teacher and the students then perform the action.

Step 3 The teacher says the command but only students perform the action

Step 4 The teacher tells one student at a time to do commands

Step 5 The roles of teacher and student are reversed. Students give commands to teacher and to other students.

Step 6 The teacher and student allow for command expansion or produces new sentences.



When should I use TPR?



TPR can be used to teach and practise many things.

Vocabulary connected with actions (smile, chop, headache, wriggle)

Tenses past/present/future and continuous aspects (Every morning I clean my teeth, I make my bed, I eat breakfast)

Classroom language (Open your books)

Imperatives/Instructions (Stand up, close you eyes)

Story-telling



PRINCIPLES



The goals of the teacher are s/he reduces the stress of the students.The teacher encourages the learners. Teacher makes the students enjoy their experiences in learning second language.

The role of the teacher is s/he is the director and guide of all the students’ behaviour. S/he becomes a movie director who guides actors - the students.

According to Total Physical Response, teacher’s attitude towards errors is s/he must believe that it a inevitable real that the students make mistakes during the education.Their making mistakes is completely normal and it show they have learned.It is wrong that they are forced not to make wrong.The teacher must be tolerant to the mistakes and s/he must correct only the important mistakes.While correcting,she must not be hurtfull.



In TPR, there is not a test evaluation.Teachers have an opinion about the student’s level observing their behaviours, answers and attitudes.(process-based evaluation).If there is a need to an evaluation, then teacher gives them some comment and wants them to do.



In T.P.R word and grammer are the most important skills. They are taught with imperatives. Imperatives can consist of one word or sentences.The reason of using the imperatives in T.P.R is that they are often used in mother language learning,speaking language is over the writing language.Firstly speaking,then reading.



One of the TPR’s aims fort he feelings of students is to decrease the stress of the students during the language learning.So when the student feels ready for speaking himself/herself, he/she must speak. The teacher must wait him/her. Otherwise it can cause anxiety and fear. During this time,they can make mistake. The most important thing is that they must be corrected properly.In order to decrease the stress of the students,the language learning must be done amusingly. For example, the teacher can use humorous imperative sentences. It increases self confidence of the students.



The teacher is in interaction with the whole group and individual students. The instructor, like a caring parent, is sensitive to whether the students are receiving the messages. The body movements of each student will signal immediately how comfortable they feel. If there is hesitation, for instance, the skillful instructor will slow down and continue to work with a routine in a compassionate manner until each student feels confident enough to act alone in response to the instructor's directions.



TECHNIQUES



Using Commands to Direct Behavior : This is the main technique of TPR. Teacher should prepare the commands before the lesson. During the application she should change the order of commands to prevent memorization

Role Reversal : Students can give commands to their classmates and teacher.

Action Sequence : Many commands can be given consecutively which are related to each other.



ADVANTAGES



It is fun and easy. Students will enjoy getting up out of their chairs and moving around.

Simple TPR activities do not require a great deal of preparation on the part of the teacher. However, some other more complex applications might.

"TPR is aptitude-free." according to Asher. It is inclusive working well with a mixed ability class.

It is good for kinæsthetic learners who need to be active in the class.

It is a good tool for building vocabulary.

It is memorable. Actions help strengthen the connections in the brain.

Class size is not a problem. It works well with mixed-ability classes. It involves both left and right-brained learning.

"TPR seems to work effectively for children and adults. There is no age barrier." according to Asher.

It won’t take a lot of time to get ready



DISADVANTAGES



While it can be used at higher levels TPR is most useful for beginners. It is also at the higher levels where preparation becomes an issue for the teacher.

Students are not generally given the opportunity to express their own thoughts in a creative way.

It is easy to overuse TPR. "Any novelty, if carried on too long, will trigger adaptation." Asher writes, "No matter how exciting and productive the innovation, people will tire of it."

The teacher may find that it is limited in terms of language scope. Certain target languages may not be suited to this method.

It can be a challenge for shy students.



Work-cited

www.wikipedia .net

www. encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com

www.ingilizceogretmenligi.com

www.tpr-world.com

www.coe.sdsu.edu

www.ingilizceogretmenleri.com

www.everythingesl.net

www.britishcouncil.org